An amended New Jersey bill that would require licensing for one-operating room surgery centers in the state has been released and the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers says it now opposes the proposed law.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), also calls for an increase in the frequency of inspections for these organizations.
NJAASC was working with Sen. Vitale and other stakeholders to address physical plant requirements called for in the bill. Jeffrey Shanton, chair, Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee, NJAASC, had previously said many of the state's one-OR surgery centers would struggle to meet the requirements, which do not impact patient safety.
The amended version of S2780 does not grandfather in physical plant requirements, but calls for the state's department of health to decide on a case-by-case basis, on appeal to the DOH, to waive physical plant requirement(s) that do not impact patient/public safety.
The bill also changed assessment from exempting one-room practices, as long as they remain one room, to assessing them, and only exempting practices that do not charge a facility fee; in other words, office-based procedure organizations.
"The bill, as currently amended, is opposed by the NJAASC, until the issues of physical plant requirements and ambulatory assessment are adequately and reasonably addressed," says Mr. Shanton. "The NJAASC is as always, committed to patient safety and quality, and indeed welcomes increased inspections as proposed by Sen. Vitale. Unfortunately, the Senator decided to go in a different direction than was indicated to us. We are still committed to working with the Senator to make this bill work, as we believe it is an important piece of legislation."
Learn more about the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
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