COVID-19 may have shattered the assumption that healthcare is recession-proof, but a new report from commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield predicts that demand for medical space will be resilient, GlobeSt.com reported Dec. 11.

It may be time to change the way organizations set physician compensation rates, according to healthcare valuation and transaction advisory firm VMG Health.

ASC can continue to receive separate payment for Omeros' cataract surgery drug, Omidria, under CMS' 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System Final Rule.

ASC administrators had to change plans during the pandemic after some temporarily closed or lowered procedure volume to conserve resources and stem the spread of COVID-19.

To help their industry continue to grow, ASCs must meticulously account for direct and indirect procedure expenses, also known as case costing, according to Regent Surgical Health. 

In an effort to maintain or increase patient volume and reduce collections costs, physician groups increasingly are offering substantial discounts to patients who pay cash up front for their medical care.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to affect patient and practice finances, Becker's ASC Review asked surgery center leaders about the state of revenue cycle processes.

UnitedHealthcare Group is the country's largest insurance company by both total revenue and lives covered, according to ValuePenguin, a resource for consumers looking to make more informed financial decisions.

Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) physician fee schedule (PFS) included a reimbursement increase for emergency department evaluation and management (E/M) codes.

ValuePenguin, a resource for consumers looking to make more informed financial decisions, identified the largest medical insurance providers in each state and Washington, D.C.

U.S. physicians are concerned about finances during the COVID-19 crisis, along with care quality and telehealth, according to a three-part survey conducted by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.

UnitedHealthcare is the country's largest health insurance company, covering 48.9 million members, according to ValuePenguin, a resource for consumers looking to make more informed financial decisions.

Six ASC administrators from California to New Jersey discuss the payer landscape in their area and what they expect in the next year.

Humana members in Florida will have in-network access to more than 6,000 Envision Healthcare clinicians under a multiyear, statewide agreement the two entities announced on Nov. 12.

Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Health Care Service Corp and CVS Health together control more than 38 percent of the health insurance market, according to ValuePenguin, a resource for consumers looking to make more informed financial decisions.

In March 2019, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota instituted a site-of-service policy asking physicians to refer patients to high-quality, low-cost care at ASCs when medically appropriate.

In 2019, almost 50% of all insured individuals were insured through employer-sponsored plans. In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate climbed to a high of 14.7% before dropping to between 7.9 and 8.3% as of September 2020.

While COVID-19 initially caused a shutdown or significant slowdown for surgery centers, ASCs have worked their way back to achieving pre-pandemic volumes. Surgery centers have proven to deliver safe and high quality outcomes, and have become a very attractive destination for patients given that it allows them to have surgery without being required to enter a hospital setting. Given this dynamic, ASCs are well situated to continue growing and thriving in 2021 and beyond.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare will install Ashish Goulatia as president of revenue collections and executive vice president of technology enablement on Dec. 1.

Monthly premiums for Medicare Part B coverage for outpatient care will increase to $148.50 in 2021, an increase of $3.90, according to a CMS announcement Nov. 6.