Here are seven news updates for ambulatory surgery center leaders to know for July 2, 2015.
CMS proposes a 1.7 percent payment update for ASCs
ASC payments are updated on an annual basis based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers. For CY 2016, CMS proposes a 1.7 percent CPI-U update. With a multi-factor productivity adjustment of 0.6 percent, the update is expected to be 1.1 percent.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute opens new location in Naples
Bascom Palmer Eye Institutes has opened its new location in Naples, Fla. Bascom Palmer's original Naples location was 3,000-square-foot office opened 11 years ago. The new facility is 20,000 square feet, houses 22 examination rooms and cost $25 million to build.
Women's Surgical Center sues Georgia health department over CON law
The physician-owners of Women's Surgical Center in Cartersville, Ga., are suing the Georgia Department of Community Health, according to the Daily Report. The lawsuit alleges the state's CON legislation is unconstitutional and prevents the physicians from adding a second operating room to the center, as well as allowing more physicians to perform cases at the center, according to the report.
Goldman Sachs: Digital healthcare to save America $300B
Analysts at Goldman Sachs predicted digital healthcare will revolutionize the industry by increasing access to care as well as reducing costs, according to Business Insider. In total, Goldman analysts project a possible savings of $305 billion from digital healthcare and up to $200 billion of that amount can come from chronic disease management, according to the report.
Erie VA Medical Center expanding its ASC
The Erie (Pa.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center is in the process of expanding its ambulatory surgery center, according to an Erie TV News report. The ASC will have a new area for cataract surgery as a result of the expansion.
5-year data on ASC eye procedure
New data has been published by VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies in Clinical Ophthalmology, which provides long-term data results for safety and effectiveness of the implantable miniature telescope for patients with end-stage, age-related macular degeneration. The researchers concluded "long-term results show substantial retention of improvement in BDCVA… Younger patients retained more vision than their older counterparts and had fewer adverse events."
Joint Commission appoints Lisa Diehl Vandecaveye to general counsel
The Joint Commission appointed Lisa Diehl Vandecaveye, JD, MBA, FACHE, to general counsel. Ms. Vandecaveye will oversee all legal issues for The Joint commission, The Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare and Joint Commission Resources. Ms. Vandecaveye was senior vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer at Beaumont Health in Southfield, Mich. She was a member of the executive leadership team.