Here are seven legislative updates that could affect your surgery center:
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 24 to promote price transparency in healthcare. The executive order directs HHS to draft rules requiring hospitals and insurance companies to disclose negotiated rates for healthcare services and inform patients of their financial responsibility prior to their procedures.
A bipartisan bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act's moratorium on new physician-owned hospitals was introduced in U.S. House on June 4. The bill, called the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2019, was introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas.
Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott passed a law June 10 establishing a licensing structure for ASCs.
The North Carolina Senate included several certificate of need-related measures in its proposed 2020 fiscal budget.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a health insurance bill into law at Jacksonville, Fla.-based CenterOne Surgery Center. Along with other provisions, the bill established the Patient Savings Act to reward consumers for shopping around for healthcare services.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation on June 14 that bans surprise medical billing. Washington also passed a law to end the practice, which occurs when patients receive treatment from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities without prior knowledge.
Oregon lawmakers could make surgical smoke evacuation policies mandatory. HB 2901 would require hospitals and ASCs to use a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that will likely generate surgical smoke. Facilities would also have to adopt smoke evacuation policies.