With CMS expecting to pay ASCs $4.89 billion in 2019, physicians should strongly consider surgery center ownership, according to Advisory Law Group's Mark F. Weiss.
Here are five takeaways from Mr. Weiss' recent blog post:
1. ASC payments will increase by an estimated $300 million in 2019.
2. CMS proposed 2019 payment rules indicate ASC reimbursement will increase by about 2 percent, on average.
3. CMS added 183 codes to the list of covered procedures. It will also add 45 "surgery-like" procedures and 12 cardiac catheterization procedures.
4. CMS proposed switching from the Consumer Price Index-based adjustment formula for ASC payments to the "market basket" payment formula, which it uses to adjust hospital outpatient department rates.
5. With surgery shifting from the hospital setting to the outpatient setting, Mr. Weiss urges physicians to consider investing in an ASC.
"Look at it like this: You can finally say goodbye to all those folks in suits who have their hands in your pockets," he said.
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