On the Cover
ASC Management
How ASCs Can Benefit From Bundling Episodes of Care
Although healthcare is trending toward more transparent payment plans, patients as a whole are generally unaware of the actual costs associated with the entire surgical process. Click here to continue >>
20 Statistics on ASC Staff Hours Per Case
Here are 20 statistics on ambulatory surgery center staff hours per case based on the number of cases at the ASC, according to VMG's Multi-Specialty ASC Intellimarker 2012. Click here to continue >>
Which States Attract the Most New Physicians? 10 Key Statistics
A new study from the Association of American Medical Colleges ranked the top states attracting physicians based on growth over the past few years. Click here to continue >>
A surprising uptick: More physicians not selling practices
A recent CareCloud Practice Profitability Index survey found nearly 59 percent of physicians are not planning to sell or merge, according to Healthcare Finance. Click here to continue >>
It's all about trust — Joe Zasa's insights on successful joint ventures
Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers possess the opportunity to benefit heavily from joint ventures. The strategic development of the joint venture proves just as important as running the center. Click here to continue >>
Joint venture cautiously — How to approach complex ASC-hospital partnerships
As the trend moves toward hospital alignment and joint ventures, physicians and ASCs may be faced with complicated partnership proposals. Click here to continue >>
Coding, Billing & Collections
How Medicare colonoscopy reimbursement cuts could impact GI in 2016 & beyond
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' 2016 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule includes reimbursement cuts for colonoscopy. Click here to continue >>
Cigna settles shareholder class-action lawsuits over Anthem deal: 5 things to know
Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna has settled a string of shareholder class-action lawsuits that were filed over its proposed merger with rival health insurer Indianapolis-based Anthem, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Click here to continue >>
CMS bumps up payments for incomplete colonoscopies: 3 key points
The 2015 CPT manual redefines an incomplete colonoscopy as a "colonoscopy that does not evaluate the entire colon," according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Click here to continue >>
Avoiding ASC Cash Flow Issues During Payer Mergers
For the health insurance industry, 2015 was the year of mega mergers. Last July, Anthem announced its $54 billion offer for Cigna, while Aetna released details of its proposed $37 billion acquisition of Humana. Click here to continue >>
Healthcare spending hits $3 trillion under ACA: 10 things to know
Healthcare spending grew by 5.3 percent in 2014, as millions of new people with health insurance coverage under the Affordable Car Act and rapidly rising prescription drug prices drove spending upward, according to a study by CMS' Office of the Actuary. Click here to continue >>
Executive Briefing
Key Specialties
Getting past the fear of spine surgery in an ASC setting
Although procedures are increasingly performed in an ASC setting, many providers and patients have reservations about spine surgery in an ASC, as opposed to a hospital. Click here to continue >>
7 ways 2016 CMS payment updates affect gastroenterology
The American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy developed a report on the key provisions from the CMS 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System updates. Click here to continue >>
Healthcare sector to be biggest source of jobs in next decade: 4 statistics
Healthcare occupations and industries are expected to have the fastest employment growth and add the most jobs between 2014 and 2024 than any other industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. Click here to continue >>
Quality and Accreditation
Maintaining infection control compliance in ASCs — Key strategies
Infection control is a major priority for any healthcare facility. Click here to continue >>
5 key notes on hand hygiene in outpatient settings: CDC report
The CDC released a new report titled "Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care," which included key recommendations for hand hygiene in the outpatient setting. Click here to continue >>
Outpatient ASC quality data reporting: CMS gives Press Ganey thumbs-up for 2016 — 5 things to know
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Press Ganey to administer the 2016 Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. Click here to continue >>