Here are seven updates for ASC leaders to note:
Colorado ASC involved in $14.9M lawsuit over paralyzed patient
A judge ruled against The Surgery Center at Lone Tree (Colo.) in a $14.9 million verdict after a patient received an injection that allegedly paralyzed her from the waist down. For more on this story, click here.
Ambulatory services market to hit $2.5T by 2022
A Market Research Future report found the global ambulatory services market is set to hit nearly $2.45 trillion by 2022, increasing at a 4.7 percent compound annual growth rate. Increased healthcare infrastructure and more government initiatives aimed at providing affordable healthcare facilities are driving market growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sanford Health suing feds for $9M related to ACA program
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming officials owe Sanford approximately $9 million in risk-corridor payments.
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO speaks out against Green Mountain Surgery Center
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO and President Jeff Tieman wrote a commentary in the VT Digger detailing his opposition to the proposal to build an ASC in Colchester, Va. Mr. Tieman said the community does not need the ASC and cites a report a healthcare management firm conducted saying there is ample space available in the community to offer surgeries to residents for at least another 20 years.
Hospital for Special Surgery to open HSS ASC of Manhattan in June
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery plans to open the HSS ASC of Manhattan in June. David S. Levine, MD, a foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, will be the surgery center's new medical director. The center will focus on extremities care and sports medicine procedures.
AMA urges appeals court to uphold decision blocking Anthem-Cigna merger
The American Medical Association argued the federal appeals court overseeing the potential merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna should uphold the trial court's decision. The AMA and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia believe Anthem's proposed savings would "damage patient care, stifle innovation and cause patients to use more healthcare services," according to an AMA press release.
Pfizer awards Dr. Declan McCole $150k grant for IBD research
New York City-based Pfizer awarded UC Riverside associate professor Declan McCole, MD, a two-year, $150,000 grant to support his inflammatory bowel disease research. Dr. McCole is leading research exploring therapeutic targets for correcting intestinal barrier defects in IBD patients who have T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase mutations.