The Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Association is advocating for House Bill 2664, which would allow patients to stay in surgery centers for up to 48 hours after admission, according to The Lund Report.
Here are five notes:
1. The Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Association presented similar legislation in past years. However, the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems contested the past proposal, saying traffic to ASCs would impact hospitals' bottom line.
2. Circumstances have changed, according to Doug Riggs, the lobbyist for the Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Association. Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services partnered with five ASCs in the state and reached an agreement with Ambulatory Surgery Association to pave way for the bill. Mr. Riggs told The Lund Report, "We are very confident that the compromise we reached will pass this session. We've made significant concessions to get on the same page."
3. The compromise mandates at least half of the extended-care centers to affiliate with a hospital system. Under the bill, at least five and no more than eight centers can be independent ASCs.
4. Thomas Lorish, MD, Providence's orthopedic and ASC director, said ASCs are an optimal avenue to lower costs and provide high quality care. He told The Lund Report, "Done correctly, these new centers will not act as a threat to hospitals, but enable patients to be seen in the right setting – reserving hospital care for the sickest and most vulnerable patients."
4. Many officials from both parties have sponsored the bill including Rep. Knute Buehler, MD, (R-Bend), Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland), Rep. John Lively (D-Springfield) and Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham).
5. Throughout the nation, states such as Colorado have authorized two-night stays at surgery centers.