ASC Physician-Owners Share 5 Top Concerns for 2010
1. Reimbursement cuts Uncertainty about federal regulation and legislation that could lead to reimbursement reductions from government payors is the top concern of many surgeons, including Neal Lintecum, MD, an orthopedic hand surgeon who practices at Lawrence (Kan.) Surgery Center... read more »
12 Best Practices, Lessons Learned and Goals for Spine Surgery ASCs
Three veteran owners of orthopedic and spine ASCs share best practices on ensuring profitability, lessons they have learned and plans for the future... read more »
53 ASC Management and Development Companies to Watch in 2010
This article briefly highlights 53 companies that are active in ASC management and development. NOTE: THIS LIST IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY COMPANY... read more »
Publisher’s Letter
2009 was a year of ASCs trying to make sure costs and headcounts were in line with business and trying to make sure payor relationships and revenues stayed solid... read more »
10 ASCs That Opened in 2009
Here are profiles of 10 ASCs that opened in 2009. Note: Facilities are listed alphabetically by state... read more »
8 Best Practices for a Profitable ASC Orthopedic Service Line
Orthopedics can be extremely profitable for surgery centers if certain best practices are used to ensure efficient operations and quality care in this service line... read more »
19 Statistics About Orthopedics in Surgery Centers
1. Orthopedics accounts for around 16 percent of the total case volume mix in surgery centers, second behind GI/endoscopy (25 percent), ophthalmology (18 percent) and pain management (17 percent)... read more »
10 Pain Management Statistics for Surgery Centers
Here are 10 statistics about pain management in surgery centers... read more »
Average ASC Facility Expenses By Region
Here are eight facility expenses and statistics for surgery centers by region, according to VMG Health's 2009 Intellimarker... read more »
Several Perspectives on Healthcare Reform
The recent discussions of healthcare reform have never been more interesting. This article briefly examines positions taken by several newspapers and their readers with respect to healthcare reform... read more »
4 Quick Stats About Orthopedic Surgery
1. There are approximately 25,500 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the United States, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery... read more »
Attorney Representing New Jersey ASC in Landmark Victory for Surgery Center Industry Discusses Garcia v. Health Net, Continued Challenges for N.J. ASCs
The Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey recently upheld a decision by the state's trial court that Wayne (N.J.) Surgical Center and its physician-owners did not violate the state's Insurance Fraud Prevention Act by waiving out-of-pocket costs for patients or by referring to patients to an ASC in which they owned an interest without notifying these patients' insurer of these practices... read more »
8 Best Practices for Establishing and Improving Pain Management in Your ASC
Pain management can be a successful specialty for ASCs looking to add or enhance this line of revenue to their centers. According to the VMG Health's 2009 Intellimarker, around 17 percent of surgery centers' total case volume was due to pain management... read more »
Average Surgery Center Debt/Leverage Ratios by Total Annual Revenue
Here are the average debts and leverage ratios for surgery centers by total annual revenue, according to VMG Health's 2009 Intellimarker... read more »
CMS Releases Final Rule For 2010 ASC Payment Rates
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that ambulatory surgical centers will receive a 1.2 percent inflation update for Medicare payments beginning Jan. 1, 2010... read more »
Spine Surgeon Robert Bray Predicts a Major Shift of Volume into ASCs
Nationally, just 1-3 percent of spine surgeries are performed in an outpatient center, but Robert S. Bray Jr., MD, believes that rate will climb in the next decade as surgeons, payors and patients alike... read more »
Overcoming a Crisis at Your ASC: 3 Scenarios
Day-to-day operations typically run smoothly at ASCs. Minor problems may arise, but a well-trained staff can handle them seamlessly. However, no matter how prepared the ASC, a crisis may occur at... read more »