ASCs are finding it unsustainable to meet margins as reimbursements lower and operating costs soar.
Brenda Carter, administrator of Wilmington (N.C.) Surgcare, joined Becker's to discuss her biggest concerns regarding reimbursements.
Editor's note: This response was edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
Brenda Carter: As always, there is great concern over reimbursements. They continue to decline while facilities are challenged to provide higher and more advanced levels of services, which come at a higher per case cost. ASCs must manage to the penny to be able to provide services, attract talent and retain staff in the most expensive, competitive market in recent history. It seems that this burden has shifted solely to the facility.
Suppliers are not restricted on pricing, and insurance companies don’t share the burden by increasing reimbursement rates for providing services. The equation seems unfairly tipped. At some point, the private industries and the suppliers that we need to operate will need to partner with us and adjust for these constraints, or ASCs will find it unsustainable.