The Surgery Center of Fort Collins in Colorado recently hosted a visit by U.S. Congressman Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) who toured the facility and discussed important ambulatory surgery center issues, according to a news release from the Colorado ASC Association.
Rep. Gardner met with physicians, ASC administrators and board members of CASCA. The primarily issue of discussion was the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2011. The legislation aims to preserve patient access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services that ASCs provide. The bill would put into place policies to establish reasonable Medicare reimbursement for ASCs while encouraging additional cost savings for Medicare. It would help "modernize" the way ASCs are paid by tying ASC Medicare payment updates to the Hospital Market Basket, rather than to the volatile Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.
"The passage of this legislation will level the playing field for ASCs regarding how CMS and the Advisory Panel for Ambulatory Classifications Group views the industry as a whole," said Lisa Austin, CASCA president and vice president of operations at Pinnacle III, in the release. "It is critical to educate and engage our senators and congressman if we expect their support."
The visit was coordinated by Ross Alexander, CEO of the Surgery Center and also CASCA secretary and chair of its government relations committee, along with the ASC Association.
Learn more about the Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
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