HHS' Office of Inspector General found at least one infection control deficiency at 55 percent of ASCs, making it the most frequently cited problem between 2013 and 2017, according to a new report.
The OIG examined data on all Medicare-deemed and nondeemed ASC complaints filed from 2013-17. The final dataset included 45 states.
The results, outlined below, give CMS cause to increase ASC oversight, the report said — especially in states that didn't satisfy survey requirements. California, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware and Hawaii were identified as states that fell short of requirements.
Given the findings, CMS will also "focus on ASCs' recurring challenges in meeting health and safety requirements, especially for infection control."
Three takeaways from the report:
1. Deficiencies. Seventy-seven percent of nondeemed ASCs had at least one general deficiency in their latest survey. One-fifth of all deficiencies were related to infection control, and pharmaceutical services were the second most-cited deficiency.
2. Patient complaints. The most common patient complaints centered on quality of care and treatment. Infection control was the second most common patient concern.
3. Trends. The average number of deficiencies decreased from 2013-17, and states received complaints for fewer than 4 percent each year. However, the number of serious complaints necessitating an on-site investigation by the state more than tripled.
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