A bill allowing patients to stay overnight in ASCs was approved by the Florida Senate Health Policy Committee, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The key details to know:
1. The bill was passed unanimously and allows patients to stay at ASCs for up to 24 hours. Florida Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, said the bill may help to lower healthcare costs by reducing transfers to hospitals.
2. Panama City (Fla.) Surgery Center Administrator Michael Madewell told legislators that the current law is out of date and does not support more complex surgeries requiring anesthesia and recovery time.
3. Democratic Senators Darryl Rouson and Janet Cruz said extending ASC stays may affect hospitals negatively by burdening them with high-risk Medicaid patients.
4. However, Sen. Harrell said ASCs are positioned to give all patients "appropriate care," even those on Medicaid.