Here are 10 ways the government shutdown beginning Oct. 1, 2013 will impact ambulatory surgery centers. 1. Medicare will continue to reimburse providers in the short term, according to a report from HHS.
2. Health insurance exchanges will still open today and begin enrolling consumers, according to a report from The Advisory Board Company.
3. There will be fewer initial and recertification surveys completed for Medicare and Medicaid providers during the shutdown, according to the HHS report.
4. CMS will not continue discretionary funding for healthcare fraud and abuse strike force teams.
5. The FDA will halt safety activities such as routine establishment inspections, some compliance enforcement and a majority of lab research to inform public health decision making, according to the HHS report.
6. The National Institutes of Health will continue patient care for current patients, but will not accept new patients. NIH will also stop answering hotline calls with medical prevention.
7. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stopped the seasonal flu program and have reduced capacity to respond to outbreaks, according to a report from The Washington Post.
8. Small business loans will not be processed, according to a Podiatry Today report.
9. There is no impact at this time for Tricare beneficiaries seeing providers in the private sector, according to a Tricare statement.
10. If the shutdown continues long term, meaning the debt ceiling does not raise by Oct. 17, likely Medicare payments will stop, people would be unable to cash Social Security checks and veterans affairs benefits would be interrupted, according to the Podiatry Today report.
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