Ohio is expanding the definition of an "ambulatory surgical facility" to include certain hospital outpatient departments and other previously exempt facilities, according to The National Law Review.
Three details:
1. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine's budget bill will expand the number of facilities subject to ASF regulations, effective Oct. 17.
2. The former definition of an ASF only included surgical facilities that functioned separately from a hospital's inpatient surgery unit or physician's office, as well as those that were considered an ASF or ASC for billing or accreditation purposes.
3. Now, ASF regulations will apply to facilities where surgical services are provided to patients who don't require inpatient admission, patients aren't treated for longer than 24 hours after admission, and one of the following applies:
- No inpatient care is offered in the building where surgical services are performed
- Inpatient care is offered in the same building as surgical services, but a separate entity operates the surgical services portion of the building
- The facility is "held out" as an ASF or similar facility
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