2024
September/October 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
CMS floats 2.6% pay bump for ASCs
CMS on July 10 shared a proposed Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System rule that would update payments by 2.6%.
Where ASCs can find wins by 2030
ASCs have grown and evolved exponentially in a short span, placing them at the forefront of change in healthcare.
The AI debate: 6 ASC leaders weigh in
Healthcare leaders, clinicians and patients alike have mixed feelings about the use of AI in medicine, but it is clear that its development and implementation is one that much of the industry is watching.
Direct employer contracts gain steam in spine
Spine and orthopedic groups have seen an uptick in prior authorizations and denials over the last several years, and many are looking for innovative ways to sidestep insurers.
5 numbers shaping the colonoscopy market
Here are five numbers shaping the colonoscopy market right now:
ASCs a 'top capital priority' for Tenet
Tenet Healthcare's ASC powerhouse United Surgical Partners International is a "top capital priority," CEO Saum Sutaria, MD, said July 23 during the company's second quarter earnings call transcribed by Seeking Alpha.
What Gen Z wants to discuss 'early and often'
Generation Z workers are making it known they want to build a career path early.
The million-dollar question facing ASCs
ASC leaders and hospitals alike are facing major obstacles to profitability as operational costs soar and Medicare and private payer reimbursement rates sink.
How ASCs can ease hospitals' burden
A prevalent issue in healthcare for several years has been increased strain on physicians, hospitals and other healthcare workers — and ASCs may be the solution.
Improving polyp detection in colonoscopy: How two physician leaders are driving ADR with innovation
Increased demand for colonoscopies has prompted healthcare leaders to hone preventive screening, service delivery and innovation strategies in recent years.
July/August 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Are spine, orthopedic surgeons exiting hospitals for private practice?
Ten years ago, 70% of orthopedic surgeons were in private practice and 30% were employed; now, the inverse is true. That's a concern, but there is hope.
What ASCs want hospitals to know
ASCs and hospitals in many markets have a complicated relationship, with some hospitals opposing surgery centers despite looking to invest in their own centers.
What this CEO did to save an ASC slated for closure
Hilo Community Surgery Center in Hawaii was slated for closure — until Frederick Nitta, MD, took over as CEO.
5 ASC profitability killers
Although the ASC industry is largely fragmented, independence is becoming increasingly difficult as practice costs soar and healthcare consolidates.
CMS floats 2.8% physician pay cut
CMS has proposed a 2.8% conversion factor reduction to its physician fee schedule for 2025.
The debt philosophy for 2 large orthopedic groups
Orthopedic practices have options on how much debt to take on as they grow. What is the strategy for some of the largest orthopedic groups in the country?
What leaders are saying about colonoscopies
In wake of lowering recommended age for colonoscopies from 50 to 45, increased demand for colonoscopies and rising rates of colon cancer among people younger than 55, colonoscopies have become hot topic in healthcare — regardless of care setting.
Largest ASC chains by number of physicians
Tenet Healthcare's United Surgical Partners International is the largest ASC chain in the country both by centers and number of physicians.
US ASC market to reach $60B by 2030
The ASC market in the U.S. is projected to reach $60.8 billion by 2030, up from the most recent valuation of $40.4 billion from 2023.
The biggest issue for CFOs in 2024
From operating margins still causing challenges for many health systems to consistent worries about healthcare workforce shortages, the current economy has trumped cost reduction concerns for CFOs in 2024, according to a new Deloitte annual survey.
June 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC specialties with the highest 5-year pay jumps
General surgery is the ASC specialty that saw the highest pay jump between 2019 and 2023, according to the Medical Group Management Association's "Provider Compensation and Productivity Data Report" released May 28.
ASCs grow with 'untapped' business line
Jayehs Dayal, MD, an anesthesiologist and owner of White flint Surgery Center in Rockville, Md., was one of the first physicians to own a freestanding licensed, accredited, three-room ASC in Rockwell.
Are ASCs the key to saving hospital finances?
Hospitals and health systems are increasingly looking to ASCs for growth — forming partnerships and joint ventures for ASC development as procedures continue to migrate to outpatient settings.
The Medicare policies restricting ASC growth
Three ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss the Medicare policies that are impeding the growth of surgery centers.
Why new ASCs could fall short
Investing in ASCs presents healthcare professionals with opportunities that may not be available to players in other markets.
How orthopedic compensation, wRVUs changed over 5 years
Orthopedic surgeon pay and work relative value units grew since 2019, according to MGMA's Provider Compensation and Productivity report.
Zimmer Biomet partners with CBRE to develop ASCs
Zimmer Biomet partnered with CBRE Group to develop orthopedic ASCs as part of a larger plan toward above-market growth, the devicemaker said May 29.
2024 GI compensation in 9 numbers
Gastroenterologists in the U.S. earn an average of $515,000 annually, according to Medscape's 2024 "Gastroenterologist Compensation Report," published May 24.
FTC's noncompete ban may favor hospitals, hurt ASCs
ASCA is opposed to the Federal Trade Commission's "Non-Compete Clause Rule," which will ban noncompete agreements Sept. 4, according to an article written in ASC Focus.
Have EHRs been good for healthcare?
Fifteen years after meaningful use incentives propelled the shift to EHRs, health system leaders told Becker's that digitizing medical records has been a net positive for the industry — with some caveats.
May/June 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The trends 3 ASC CEOs left in 2023
Becker's connected with the CEOs of three ASC to see what healthcare trends have outstayed their welcome and the trends they believe are gaining favor in the industry.
Payers' missed opportunity in ASCs
Payers should adjust reimbursements for more cardiology procedures to align with the quality and cost advantages of these services in the ASC setting, one ASC leader says.
116 new ASCs open in 2023
By the end of 2022, there were roughly 6,087 Medicare-Certified ASCs in operation in the U.S., with California holding the most facilities at 848.
The 'innovation in practice' mindset guiding United Digestive's new CEO
Neal Patel, MD, was promoted to CEO of United Digestive in April, and he has his eye on growth in 2024.
Rite Aid shuttering 200+ locations: What ASCs need to know
Rite Aid will shutter 53 more locations after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced it will close locations last year, according to April bankruptcy court filings obtained by Becker's.
Health systems are evaluating AI beyond dollar signs
When it comes to evaluating the return on investment for AI initiatives, hospitals and health systems assess whether they lead to improved patient outcomes, patient experience and operational efficiency rather than measuring it only in dollars.
This hospital CEO is done playing nice with Medicare Advantage
Bristol Health CEO Kurt Barwis says Medicare Advantage is killing the healthcare industry — but when 64% of his system's Medicare beneficiaries have MA, he has no choice but to keep contracting with plans.
Stark law's unintended consequences
Some of the largest recoveries by the Justice Department in the last year were Stark law violations, and some leaders worry the policy is hurting physicians rather than preventing corruption.
A rookie's guide to opening an ASC
As ASCs become increasingly enticing to health systems, investors and physicians alike, some healthcare leaders who are not as familiar with ASC practices may be looking to open outpatient centers.
ASC growth could hinge on this policy
Patient and provider interest in ASCs is rising, but markets that have stringent certificate-of-need laws could struggle, leaders say.
March/April 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Where ASC transactions are heating up
Although 68% of the ASC market remains independent, the industry saw continued consolidation in 2023, according to a recent report from VMG Health.
Orthopedic MSOs remain popular but other options show promise
Musculoskeletal management organizations have been a popular avenue for orthopedic practices to find support amid economic, business and payer headwinds. But in the last year, some physicians have also found success in other consolidation models.
Complex spine surgery can work in ASCs. Here are the steps to get there
More spine surgeries are migrating to ASCs, and the outpatient setting has been ideal for minimally invasive procedures. But work still needs to be done to optimize complex spine cases for ASCs.
ASC leaders turn to gastroenterology for growth
Healthcare leaders are turning to gastroenterology to unlock growth opportunities.
The advice CEOs put to use in their 1st year on the job
A number of hospitals and health systems appointed new CEOs early last year. Though these CEOs were new to the role and maybe even to the organization, they brought with them past experiences and lessons learned from others, which they were able to use to be a part of meaningful change during their first months on the job.
How ASCs are adapting to supply chain struggles
Although expense management is always something leaders consider when managing ASCs, in recent years cutting costs has become even more important to grapple with ongoing supply disruptions, increasing costs of supplies and labor and decreasing reimbursements.
What an ASC did to avoid room shutdowns
Andrew Lovewell, CEO of Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, realized his surgery center had a problem. The demand for services was high, but cases couldn't get scheduled because of gaps in anesthesia coverage.
Hospitals target ASCs with new proposals
Outpatient revenue for hospitals and health systems jumped 10.6% year over year in January, as hospitals continue to see more complex procedures become safe in the outpatient setting, according to Syntellis.
February 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
How weight loss drugs may impact the ASC industry
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic have surged in popularity over the past year. But what does this increased popularity mean for the ASC industry?
How will the economy affect ASCs in 2024?
Five ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss how a potential economic downturn could affect ambulatory healthcare space growth.
Spine surgeons will 'do cool things' with ASCs in 5 years
The evolution of spine surgery is leaning more toward outpatient care. Here's what six spine surgeons are predicting for the near future.
How ASCs are adapting to supply chain struggles
Although expense management is always something leaders consider when managing ASCs, in recent years cutting costs has become even more important to grapple with ongoing supply disruptions, increasing costs of supplies and labor and decreasing reimbursements.
HCA nets $5.2B in 2023, names CFO: 5 notes
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare rounded out 2023 with fourth-quarter net income totaling $1.61 billion, a decrease of 26% year over year.
ASCs, spine tech fuel mutual growth
The growth of spine technology and outpatient spine migration are two things that can benefit from each other.
General Catalyst led $95.5M investment in a physician group, plans health system acquisition
General Catalyst led a $95.5 million funding round for a Texas-based physician clinic chain in early January, and a week later the investment firm announced plans to acquire Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health.
The GI trends shaping 2024
From private equity's growing presence in the specialty to changes in the use of anesthesia, here are three trends shaping the gastroenterology field in 2024.
Gastroenterology's reimbursement problem
Low reimbursement rates have plagued gastroenterology for years. Here's what gastroenterologists have to say about how it's affecting the field.
CFOs getting more CEO jobs
More CFOs are moving to CEO or president roles, but finance executives must be well-versed in what drives growth to find success in the corner office, Bloomberg reported Jan. 16.
January/February 2024 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The new age of 'super-sized' ASCs
Les Jebson, regional administrator at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health, joined Becker's to discuss the biggest ASC growth opportunities.
ASCs vs. HOPDs: 3 cost comparisons
ASCs and HOPDs are vying for similar patient populations, but having procedures done at ASCs versus the latter can yield financial benefits, according to an analysis by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
The 3 trends keeping ASC leaders up at night
Here are three major trends that are worrying ASC leaders.
Why private practice is worth it for 2 spine surgeons
Two spine surgeons shared with Becker's the reasons why they prefer private practice over hospital employment.
The GI companies to watch in 2024
Here are six gastroenterology groups to keep an eye on 2024:
Michael Dowling: The most pressing question to start the year
The new year is always an ideal time for healthcare leaders to reflect on the state of our industry and their own organizations, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead. As the CEO of a large health system, I always like to reflect on one basic question at the end of each year: Are we staying true to our mission?
Good news for the ASC labor market
The labor market tightened over the last year and surgery center leaders are keeping a close eye on the trends.
The market trends crucial to ASC success in 2024
Joe Peluso, administrator at Aestique Surgical Center in Greensburg, Pa., joined Becker's to discuss market trends affecting success in ASCs, particularly independent organizations.
ASC owners' biggest concerns for 2024
While ASC owners are hopeful for growth and expansion in 2024 and more procedures shift to the outpatient setting, there are still roadblocks ahead.
2023
November/December 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The less-discussed threat to ASC growth
Les Jebson, regional administrator at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health, joined Becker's to discuss the threats to outpatient growth and what procedures are moving to the ASC setting.
USPI has 30 de novo ASCs in pipeline, sees 'consistently positive' M&A environment
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, part of Tenet Healthcare, had a successful third quarter with continued service line and revenue growth.
This leader went from ASC CEO to Congressional candidate — here's how
Austin Cheng, CEO of New York City-based Gramercy Surgery Center, is running to represent New York's 3rd Congressional District.
Why ASC leaders are hopeful
From positive work culture to a prioritization of self care, five ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what is making them hopeful.
6 principles to ASC success: An administrator's guide
Joe Peluso, administrator at Aestique Surgical Center in Greensburg, Pa., joined Becker's to discuss his ASC teams' approach to leadership.
3 forces disrupting gastroenterology
Artificial intelligence, prior authorization and decreased reimbursements all have a big role in the future of gastroenterology.
'ASCs are the future:' How MemorialCare Medical Foundation’s new CEO wants to change healthcare
David Kim, MD, was recently appointed CEO of MemorialCare Medical Foundation, a Fountain Valley, Calif.-based medical group encompassing MemorialCare Medical Group, Greater Newport Physicians and more than 200 outpatient care centers.
'It's a scam': Why 2 practices no longer accept Medicare Advantage patients
Health systems have been cutting ties with Medicare Advantage plans left and right, including Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed and Zanesville, Ohio-based Genesis HealthCare System.
How 6 spine surgeons approach physician safety
Healthcare professionals have faced increased risks in the last year. Violence against healthcare workers saw a significant increase globally in 2022. Meanwhile there are regular risks in the operating room with radiation exposure and other illnesses.
October 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Where independent ASCs stand today
Consolidation can feel like a looming threat to the ASC industry, but the majority of surgery centers remain independent.
The 3 trends keeping ASC leaders up at night
Here are three major trends on which ASC leaders are hyper-focused in 2023:
The biggest misconceptions about gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is a very common medical specialty, but it is not without its misconceptions.
Why these health systems are investing in ASCs
Several health systems are looking toward ASCs to make care more accessible and create avenues for cost-effective outpatient care.
Optum's powerful physician workforce: 5 stats to know
Optum is the largest employer of physicians in the country, with 70,000 employed or aligned.
Where nurses, CDC don't see eye to eye
National Nurses United's recent scrutiny over the CDC's proposed masking standards in hospitals is the latest example of the two entities not seeing eye to eye on infection control.
The perfect CEO personality? No such thing
CEO personality is correlated to company culture, but what works for one organization may not serve another, defying the notion of a universal chief executive archetype.
'We have to adjust': 5 ASC leaders on meeting workforce expectations
Five ASC administrators joined Becker's to share their predictions on what the future holds for the outpatient surgery workforce.
The role ASCs may play in primary care
While ASCs are designed to be hyper-focused on providing outpatient surgical procedures for patients, sometimes they are forced to deal with patient care encounters beyond their intended scope.
Good news, bad news for physicians
Here are three pieces of good news and three pieces of bad news for physicians:
September/October 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Optum digs deeper into value-based care
UnitedHealth Group's Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, has become a household name in value-based care as it continues to snap up healthcare companies that align with its goal of expanding in the space.
ASCs get 2.8% pay bump in CMS' 2024 proposal: 5 details
CMS pitched a 2.8 percent average rate increase for ASCs next year in the 2024 hospital outpatient prospective payment system, released July 13.
States with the most, fewest ASCs per Medicare beneficiary
States vary widely in the number of ASCs per 10,000 Medicare part B beneficiaries, according to the MedPAC report to Congress released earlier this year.
Private equity targets orthopedic ASCs: 5 details
Orthopedics has a unique position within the healthcare ecosystem as a highly fragmented industry ripe with potential for standardization and value-based care. There is a strong demand for affiliation with orthopedic groups, according to a new report from VMG Health, and more transactions could be on the horizon.
5 gastroenterology supergroups to know
Here are five gastroenterology supergroups to know:
States take on 'doctor' title debate
Several states are taking on the debate of whether to prevent nonphysicians from using the doctor title, but nurse practitioners with doctorates are pushing back, The Washington Post reported Aug. 20.
Why the ASC industry is poised for growth
Joe Peluso, administrator at Aestique Surgical Center in Greensburg, Pa., joined Becker's to discuss what he thinks the ASC industry looks like and will look like as healthcare costs continue to rise.
The disruptors posing the biggest threats to ASCs
Seven ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss the disruptors with the most potential to shake up the ASC industry.
Why healthcare need to 'rethink the concept of noncompetes'
As more physicians moved to employed models, many leaders feel noncompetes are no longer compatible with the physician workforce.
July/August 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Physician groups are being snapped up — 5 reasons why
As costs rise and the industry increasingly consolidates, physician practices are increasingly looking to hospitals, health systems and commercial groups for financial security, according to a report published June 7 by the American Hospital Association.
CMS adds physician owner waiver for Stark law
CMS added a Stark law waiver for physician owners of independent free-standing emergency departments that served Medicare patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an article written by three attorneys from the firm McDermott, Will & Emery and published in Lexology on June 2.
ASC margins can't take it anymore
For many ASCs, margins can't tighten anymore. But cost pressures persist and insurance companies haven't adjusted to reflect rising supply and labor costs.
5 numbers troubling gastroenterologists
Here are five numbers that may be troubling gastroenterologists.
Optum's spending spree continues
UnitedHealth Group's Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, is on a spending spree, acquiring more than $10 billion worth of companies in the last year.
The future of ASCs in 1 word
The future of ASCs may prove to be simultaneously bright and challenging.
Private equity turns to cardiology after courting ASCs for years
Private equity firms have long used ASCs as investment vehicles, and after courting key ASC specialties like gastroenterology, orthopedics and ophthalmology, they could be looking to cardiology as a new area of growth.
Where are the women in orthopedics?
The orthopedic industry is ever-changing, with new robots and surgical techniques seemingly always around the corner. But one aspect of this vibrant industry hasn't changed much since its conception — the lack of women in the operating rooms.
June 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC chains by number of surgery centers
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International is the largest ASC chain by both number of surgery centers and number of physician
3 ASC deals shaping the industry
The ASC industry is slowly consolidating, and three deals in the last five years point to the different ways ASC chains are growing.
Tenet's highest-paid execs
The executive team of Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, took major pay cuts from 2021 to 2022, according to a proxy statement the Dallas-based company filed April 14.
How long has USPI been on top?
United Surgical Partners International is an ASC powerhouse. With more than 442 ASCs and 24 surgical hospitals across 35 states, it is the largest network in the country.
How private GI practice could change in 10 years
Private practice is changing across specialties, and gastroenterology is no different.
What ASCs need most right now, per 6 leaders
Six healthcare professionals joined Becker's to share what the ASC industry needs most, from training and retaining staff to technological upgrades and other necessities.
The pros and cons of consolidation
Michael Davis, MD, surgical director and chief of urology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque, joined Becker's to evaluate the benefits — and downsides — of the growing trend of consolidation in healthcare.
Why aren't there more cardiovascular ASCs?
Cardiology has been recognized as a prime growth specialty for ASCs, so why aren't there more cardiovascular-focused surgery centers?
May 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 most expensive states for physicians to live in
Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "2021 Consumer Expenditures Survey," the most recent data provided by the organization.
UnitedHealthcare to cut prior authorization usage by 20%
UnitedHealthcare plans to cut back on its use of prior authorization, removing procedures and medical devices from its list of services requiring signoff and reducing the number of authorizations from 13 million to 10 million annually, according to a March 29 report from The Wall Street Journal.
Physician vs. healthcare CEO pay: 5 notes
Here are five stats to know about how physician pay stacks up compared to CEO pay:
What the ASC industry will look like in the next 10 years
Three industry leaders joined Becker's to discuss what the ASC industry will look like for the next decade.
5 numbers making gastroenterologists nervous
Here are five statistics gastroenterology leaders should keep an eye on:
Is CMS pushing procedures away from ASCs? 5 moves to know
From its reversal on the inpatient only list to removing procedures from the ASC-approved list, CMS seemingly has been erratic with its ASC policies.
Hospitals are ending services — here’s how ‘the ASC industry is reshaping itself’
While hospitals continue to close service lines, a window of opportunity appears to be opening for ASCs.
Why don’t private practice physicians have more power in healthcare?
Private practice physicians are struggling as the physician workforce increasingly migrates to employed models.
March/April 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
CMS updates Stark Law self-referral rules: 4 things to know
CMS updated its voluntary self-referral disclosure laws Jan. 23, according to law firm Nexsen Pruet in a Feb. 15 article on JDSupra.
Physician falls to 6th on list of best healthcare jobs
Physician dropped to the sixth-best healthcare job, with a median salary of $208,000 and 19,400 projected jobs between 2021 and 2031, according to a U.S. News & World Report list.
Optum to add LHC Group in $5.4B deal: 4 notes
UnitedHealth Group closed the multimillion-dollar deal to acquire home health and hospice company LHC Group Feb. 22, according to an SEC filing.
Which ASC chain has the most surgery centers?
United Surgical Partners International, the largest ASC chain in the U.S., has 410 surgery centers.
22 of the largest orthopedic groups in the US by number of physicians
Here are more than 20 of the largest orthopedic practices in the U.S., listed by the number of physicians on the staff.
Senator argues for physicianowned hospital
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., teamed with Brian Miller, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to pen a column for The Wall Street Journal calling for an end to the ban on physician-owned hospitals.
Physicians see income drop — what happens next?
From skyrocketing inflation to CMS pay cuts, physicians are facing compensation declines affecting their practices and livelihoods
Private equity is driving cases to ASCs — and cardiology could be primed for growth
Private equity's interest in ASCs and physicians over the last decade has helped spur a migration of procedures to the outpatient setting, and cardiology could be the next target.
February 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
4 ASC chains’ 12-year growth breakdown
United Surgical Partners International is the largest ASC chain in the country, with 410 centers. Here's how four of the largest ASC chains have grown over the last 12 years:
5 industry-shifting healthcare moves in 2022
From Amazon to CVS Health, here are five major healthcare deals in 2022 that are shifting the industry:
7 things ASC leaders are excited about
Nine ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what they're most excited about in 2023.
7 ASCs that faced opposition in 2022
Here were seven ASCs that faced opposition in 2022:
SCA Health has 9,200 physicians
SCA Health, based in Deerfield, Ill., has grown over the last few years to include hundreds of surgery centers and thousands of physicians in its network.
Shoot to where the puck is going’: Hospital CEO looks to ASCs to drive margins
Hospitals and health systems faced formidable margin declines in 2022 amid labor shortages, skyrocketing operating costs and declining inpatient volumes
Payers splitting with health systems: How ASCs could be affected
Contract disputes and payer splits are threatening coverage nationwide, and some ASCs are being affected by the parties unable to meet year-end or looming deadlines
FTC moves to ban noncompetes: What it could mean for physicians
In January, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would keep employees free from non-compete contracts. The rule would apply to full-time employees and independent contractors, both paid and unpaid.
January/February 2023 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Largest ASC chains by number of physicians
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, is the largest ASC
chain in the country by centers and number of physicians.
3 fast facts on ASC operating costs
Here are three breakdowns of ASC operating costs to know:
3 major health systems post billion-dollar losses: What ASC leaders should know
Hospitals and health systems, like ASCs, are being affected by rising labor and supply costs while
reimbursements remain low.
Top 10 states for orthopedic surgeons to work in 2022: Report
While orthopedic surgeons perform the same job in every state, the work environment,
salary and demand for services are not uniform across the country.
5 of the biggest ASC deals in 2022
Here are five of the biggest deals from the largest ASC chains or their parent companies
that Becker's has reported on since May 3:
Where the relationship between ASCs and payers stands today
ASCs and payers continue to face obstacles as they work through the challenges and
changes of today's healthcare environment.
The major benefits of physician ASC ownership
Control and convenience are two major benefits to physician ownership of ASCs, according
to the most recent data from Advancing Surgical Care.
Accessing economies of scale is possible for ASCs — here's how
ASCs often struggle to compete with larger health systems and practices for patients and
contracts, but some are looking to technology to access economies of scale in the coming months.
2022
November/December 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC that closed due to 'adverse business conditions' struggling to collect payments
The Surgery Center of Fort Collins (Colo.) is working on collecting past due bills more than two months after it announced it was closing for good, BizWest reported Oct. 26.
ASC leaders’ secrets to success
Ten ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss their secrets to success
SA$1.7B for the most expensive ASC projects in Q3
Here are the seven most expensive ASC projects in the third quarter of 2022, totaling $1.7 billion:
Culture is king: How ASCs are winning in the staffing crisis
While ASCs in many markets can't compete with hospital salaries, many are coming out on top with creative recruiting strategies and a positive work environment.
Where ASC consolidation is headed
Prashanth Bala, vice president of ASC operations at Shields Health in Quincy, Mass., spoke with Becker's to discuss the trajectory of ASC consolidation.
Why cardiology is ASCs’ next big thing
ASCs have seen a massive opportunity for growth in cardiology in the last few years, as payers and CMS see financial gain in performing these procedures in the ASC setting.
ASC leaders’ top priorities
Ten ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss their top priorities through the end of the year.
October 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The biggest disruptors of the ASC industry
From high patient deductibles to supply chain issues, five ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss the biggest disruptors of the industry.
ASC leaders continue to grapple with staffing issues
In today's environment, staffing challenges continue to be one of the biggest issues ASC leaders are up against.
Top 5 ASC chains by market share
There is a huge growth opportunity for ASC chains, as around 70 percent of freestanding surgery centers remain independent, according to VMG Health's "Annual Healthcare M&A Report 2022."
Why orthopedics is the golden ticket for ASCs
Orthopedics may be ASCs' best option for running a profitable and successful center.
$194M Chicago ASC cuts ribbon
The University of Illinois Chicago has cut the ribbon on a $194 million project that features an ASC, the academic health system said Sept. 13.
UW-Madison orthopedic head steps down after proposed ASC denied
Thomas Zdeblick, MD, who was chair of orthopedics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, resigned after his plan for a majority physician-owned ASC was denied, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Sept. 12.
Compass Surgical Partners hires 3 execs to meet ASC market demand
Compass Surgical Partners, an ASC developer and manager, has added three new members to its team to help its hospital and surgeon partners adapt to growing market demand.
What procedures are migrating to ASCs?
COVID-19 has accelerated the migration of surgeries to the outpatient setting, and many administrators expect the trend to continue.
GI Alliance finalizes $785M physician-led buyout
Southlake, Texas-based GI Alliance has finalized its physician-led buyout facilitated by a $785 million investment from private equity firm Apollo Hybrid Value.
ASC CEO's 3-part strategy to weather financial challenges
Michael Grant, CEO of the Surgery Center of Amarillo (Texas), joined Becker's to discuss how his ASC is tackling financial challenges.
ASCs with 25%+ orthopedic case volume are best positioned to thrive, CEOs say
Orthopedic surgeries have increasingly shifted to the ASC setting in the last 10 years as minimally invasive technology advanced. More recently, CMS, commercial payers and patients have pushed these procedures to the ambulatory environment, where they can be done safely and at a lower cost than the inpatient setting.
September/October 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
USPI to run up to 600 ASCs by end of 2025: 8 notes
The ASC market is expected to be Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's main growth driver in the coming years, with the company's surgery center business, United Surgical Partners International, aiming to have 575 to 600 ASCs by the end of 2025.
CMS ups inpatient rates 4.3% for 2023; what should ASCs expect?
CMS plans to boost acute care hospital pay 4.3 percent next year, as long as the hospitals comply with quality data reporting.
3 ways ASCs are seeking to drive revenue
As supply and labor costs skyrocket, many ASC leaders are seeking new ways to drive revenue.
ASC leaders continue to grapple with staffing issues
In today's environment, staffing challenges continue to be one of the biggest issues ASC leaders are up against.
ASC chain with 1,079% 3-year growth makes the Inc. 5000 list
Inc. has named Atlas Healthcare Partners, which manages and develops ASCs, to its 2022 list of fastest-growing companies in the U.S.
What nurses, support staff crave from employers today
Nurses and support staff are a critical part of any spine surgeon's practice, but recruiting and retaining top-tier talent is becoming increasingly challenging in the healthcare labor market.
ASC-payer negotiations: 1 CEO's advice for securing the right contracts
Negotiating contracts with commercial payers is one of the most challenging and fatiguing aspects of an ASC administrator's role. But there are core strategies administrators should consider when sitting at the table with insurers, including arming oneself with cost and outcomes data, understanding the market and fostering good relationships with negotiators.
$70M Olathe Health expansion includes 2 ASCs
Olathe (Kan.) Health is kicking off a $70 million expansion that will include two ASCs, the Kansas City Star reported Aug. 4.
The growth strategy of 3 major ASC chains
United Surgical Partners International, Surgery Partners and SCA Health are three of the biggest ASC chains, and are looking to different avenues for growth in the coming years.
New PE-backed spine device company targets ASC surgeons
Inspan merged with Sacrix to form Insrix, a new spine device company, effective July 1.
Behind the opposition to 3 ASCs
This year, three ASCs, two of which have been cleared for construction, faced opposition from a variety of players.
July/August 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 factors that will make or break ASCs
As operation costs skyrocket and reimbursements stagnate, ASCs are facing huge challenges to maintaining profitability. Here are five factors that can make or break ASCs in the coming years, according to seven ASC leaders.
CMS proposes 2.7% update to ASC pay rate in 2023: 6 things to know
CMS on July 15 released its 2023 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule, which includes updates to ASC payment rates, the inpatient-only list and ASC covered-procedures list.
ASCs among the small businesses losing hope in the US economy
Small businesses are losing confidence in the U.S. economy amid soaring inflation, supply chain delays and staff shortages, according to a May 22 Wall Street Journal report.
USPI striding ahead of competition in total ASCs, physicians
Dallas-based United Surgical International Partners is strengthening its position as the leading ASC operator in the U.S., with its latest partnership adding 22 ASCs and more than 140 physicians to its network.
The most difficult staff for ASCs to recruit
ASCs, hospitals and health systems continue to be challenged with staff shortages as the availability of high-quality clinical and administrative workers fluctuates through labor market shifts and new waves of COVID-19 variants.
Can ASCs handle the boom in case volume?
ASC surgery volume is projected to grow 25 percent in the next decade, according to an analysis from Sg2 Healthcare Intelligence, but it's unclear whether ASCs will be able to accommodate these new cases with rising staff and supply costs.
10 specialties with the most physicians at $5M+ net worth
Plastic surgery is the specialty with the most physicians most likely to report net worth exceeding $5 million, according to Medscape's "Physician Wealth & Debt Report 2021."
ASC company forms joint venture cardiovascular business
Atlas Healthcare Partners, a company that manages and develops surgery centers, has partnered with MedAxiom to create a joint venture specializing in improving cardiovascular care in ASCs.
ASC employee compensation packages are changing: 7 insights
Nurses and medical assistants are among the most difficult positions to recruit in today's challenging healthcare labor market, which has pushed many ASCs and medical practices to increase wages and strengthen compensation packages and benefits to address staff shortages.
Same surgery cost nearly 20 times more in HOPD than ASC in California
A retired orthopedic surgeon in Fresno, Calif., was charged nearly $4,000 more for a cataract surgery at a hospital outpatient department than his wife who received the same procedure at an ASC, Kaiser Health News reported June 27.
ASCs operating at 'breakneck' speed to compete with HOPD staffing
Sandra Berreth, RN, director of the Foothill Surgery Center at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, Calif., joined Becker's to discuss the solutions to the biggest challenges in ASCs today.
June 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Physicians can win big with ASC investments
Investment in an ASC is a long-term strategy for physicians, particularly those not employed by a hospital, to thrive financially and gain more control over their day-to-day workflow.
Can ASCs save healthcare?
Orthopedic surgeons think ASCs are saving the specialty amid high consolidation and the movement to value-based care. Can ASCs also save healthcare?
Good and bad news for surgery centers: 10 notes
Surgery center owners see many positive headwinds over the next year, but there are also challenges. Here are five pieces of good news and five pieces of bad news to know.
$1B joint venture sets sights on ASCs, medical office buildings
Big Sky Medical, a real estate investment manager, and Newmark, a real estate advisory and services company, have partnered to create a medical office building portfolio worth $1 billion, Commercial Property Exclusive reported April 18.
10 ASC companies ranked by number of surgery centers
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International and Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg rank No. 1 and No. 2 as ASC companies with the most surgery centers.
Optum ups offer 223% in bid for physician group
Optum received clearance to buy a 30-location independent physician organization in Massachusetts after significantly increasing the amount it intends to pay for and invest in the group, according to The Boston Globe.
Surgical Care Affiliates rebrands to go beyond ASCs
Surgical Care Affiliates, one of the largest ASC networks in the U.S., rebranded to SCA Health.
22-year-old Hawaii ASC in danger of closing
Hilo (Hawaii) Community Surgery Center, is in danger of closing due to low volume, its owners told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
ASCs' biggest enemies to patient care
Supply chain issues and CMS policies are two of the big obstacles ASCs face in providing patient care.
10 ASCs leaders on positive signs for the industry
With low infection rates and fast turnarounds, ASCs are increasingly viewed as ideal sites of outpatient services.
ASC platform lands health system investment
Banner Health, a Phoenix-based health system, invested in surgery center development company Atlas Healthcare Partners.
May/June 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Are ASCs warming up to private equity?
A few years ago, private equity was a dirty word among some circles of physicians and surgeons. The idea of accepting investment dollars in exchange for autonomy was unattractive for physician owners at best, and dangerous at worse.
The investment ASCs can't afford to skip
ASCs are in a great position to capitalize on the trend to value-based care. Surgery centers are the high-quality, low-cost setting for care and could save Medicare, insurers and patients billions of dollars every year by migrating outpatient surgeries to the low-acuity setting. But there is one thing holding them back.
Optum's strategy for 2022 growth
Optum spent the last decade investing in significant growth, adding thousands of physicians to its network and purchasing ASC company Surgical Care Affiliates in 2017. Now the company is focusing more on its primary care network, data offerings and $115 billion pharmacy and medical care business line.
The issue dividing ASC owners
ASC growth and expansion can be an uphill battle for independent centers. A controversial trend makes it easier for some and harder for others.
Healthcare's $979M physician problem
Turnover of primary care physicians results in about $979 million in excess healthcare expenditures annually for payers, according to a study published Feb. 26 in ScienceDirect.
What would it take to sell your ASC? Owners weigh in
Independent, physician-owned ASCs seem to get bought out more and more often by private equity, health systems and big ASC chains.
The 15 best, worst states for physicians in 2022
The top three states for physicians to practice medicine this year are in the Midwest and the worst are on the East Coast, according to one new ranking.
The payer trends impeding ASCs today
ASC owners and administrators are finding it more difficult to obtain payment from insurers as companies change coverage policies. But the current strain could push insurers and ASCs to find common ground on caring for the entire episode of care more efficiently and cost-effectively.
10 most common complications after ASC spine surgery: Study
The most common complications after spine surgery at ASCs are gastrointestinal, with vascular being the most infrequent, according to a study published in Clinical Spine Surgery in April.
Robots keeping the next generation of spine surgeons out of ASCs
Robotic technology is growing among spine surgeons, and fellows are learning to use the technology for more precise outcomes. But if they become too reliant on robotics for spine surgery, the transition to outpatient surgery centers could be problematic.
March/April 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
4 major obstacles for the ASC industry
Andrew Lovewell, administrator at the Surgical Center at Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group and CEO of the Lodge at Keene Street, joined Becker's ASC Review to discuss his biggest concerns in the upcoming year.
The next 3 hot spots for ASC growth
The number of ASCs in Florida and Texas have grown rapidly in the past five years due to an increased demand for elective surgery and a favorable regulatory environment.
USPI vs. SCA vs. Surgery Partners: How big 3 stack up
The largest ASC chains keep getting bigger, and three of the top companies have hundreds of ASCs and thousands of physicians.
Bad news for Optum
Amid lingering antitrust issues, Optum's $13 billion acquisition of data analytics firm Change Healthcare is facing more hurdles. Optum owns one of the biggest ASC chains in the U.S., Surgical Care Affiliates, and the company's plans to grow its data capabilities could be in jeopardy after the Justice Department sued to stop the acquisition.
Largest ASC chains by No. of physicians — USPI has 11,000+
More than 4,500 physicians joined three of the largest ASC chains in 2021, with Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, further pulling ahead of its competitors, both in terms of the number of physicians and surgery centers.
ASC power players: 5 people to know
The ASC industry is growing and will become an even more essential element of the healthcare ecosystem as value-based care takes hold.
4 ways GI ASCs can thrive in a competitive market
The lowering of the colorectal cancer screening age and the acceleration of the outpatient migration leaves gastroenterology ASCs and endoscopy centers primed for growth.
Surgery Center Services of America opening 6 ASCs
Mesa, Ariz.-based Surgery Center Services of America has plans to open six ASCs in the next year, CEO Philip Blair told Becker's ASC Review.
Average ASC revenue per case for each specialty: 2022
Orthopedics tops the pack for ASC revenue per case, according to VMG Health's "Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study" for 2022. The specialty was only the fourth most-represented among ASC cases, however.
The 'sure thing' investment ASC owners should capitalize on
With the U.S. stock market tanking in recent weeks, many investors' portfolios have taken a hit. But those with ASC real estate ownership may not have much to worry about.
February 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 predictions for ASCs in 2022
Consolidation, payer policies, nurse shortages and COVID-19 will continue to loom large for ASCs over the next 12 months.
ASCs compete with Walmart, Target and others for staff as minimum wage jumps
Surgery centers, hospitals and medical groups are used to competing with each other for nursing staff. Now, Walmart, Target, Amazon and other retailers are vying for the same personnel and willing to pay high wages.
USPI plans to have more than 600 ASCs by 2025
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a Tenet Healthcare company, aims to add more than 160 ASCs to its portfolio in the next three years.
ASC disputes payer's conclusion that spine cases should have been in the hospital
The Center for Pain Management remains out of network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota after the payer terminated its contract over safety concerns in October.
Spinal fusions at HOPDs increase after CMS approval for ASCs
Outpatient cervical and lumbar fusions jumped at hospital-outpatient departments after CMS approved the procedures for ASCs while the procedure rate had little or no growth in surgery centers.
19 insights on gastroenterology and ASCs
Here are 19 insights on gastroenterologist debt, net worth, compensation and procedure costs:
Anesthesiologist No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report's 'Best Paying Jobs' of 2018
U.S. News & World Report updated its 'Best Paying Jobs' list, bestowing top honors on anesthesiologists.
Is CMS reversal on rates and inpatient-only list a sign of things to come?
After announcing a plan to eliminate the inpatient-only list, last year CMS eventually reversed its stance — keeping the list, adding more procedures to it, and frustrating ASC leaders nationwide.
How opioid-free anesthesia can boost cases, reduce costs at ASCs: Q&A with Dr. Chhaya Patel
Time is money for ASCs, but patient care must always be the No. 1 priority. The use of opioid-free anesthesia can provide quality pain control while reducing postoperative complications for patients and allow for improved productivity for surgery centers, according to a study published in Urology in Pediatrics.
15% of job vacancies are due to long COVID-19, report finds: 6 things to know
As the U.S. deals with a major labor shortage, a Jan. 11 Brookings report estimates that about 15 percent of unfilled jobs could be the result of people struggling with long COVID-19.
What happens when physicians sell their practices
Physician practices are selling to hospitals and corporate entities at an accelerated rate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
January/February 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
15 of the most expensive ASC projects of 2021
The ambulatory surgery space has been active with new construction in 2021. Here are 15 of the most expensive, strictly outpatient projects this year:
What ASCs can expect more of in 2022
ASCs are in a great position to take advantage of high quality, low cost care trends next year. But they will face the same challenges as other companies when it comes to supply chain and staffing shortages.
15 details on USPI's $1.2B acquisition of SurgCenter
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, on Nov. 8 announced its plan to acquire SurgCenter Development for about $1.2 billion by the year's end.
Leapfrog recognizes 13 ASCs with patient care excellence award
The Leapfrog Group released its first ever award for excellence in patient care to ASCs Nov. 30.
Physicians get temporary reprieve from Medicare pay cuts
Physicians faced a Medicare pay cut next year of about 9 percent before President Joe Biden signed a bill Dec. 10 temporarily averting the cuts.
The biggest trends 3 ASC CEOs are following
Recruiting and retaining staff amid a nationwide healthcare workforce shortage and finding ways to capitalize on the shift to outpatient are among the top priorities for ASC administrators in 2022.
Orthopedic surgeon, ASC owner runs for U.S. House
Al Olszewski, MD, orthopedic surgeon and ASC owner, is running for a Montana congressional seat, the Helena Independent Record reported Nov. 23.
How HCA is fueling its outpatient growth: 5 notes
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare reported strong growth in outpatient revenue and profit in the third quarter of 2021.
Andrews Ambulatory Surgery to build 1st 3 ASC projects in Florida
Andrews Ambulatory Surgery, the newly formed joint venture ASC company led by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, MD, is building its first three ASCs in Northeast Florida, according to a Nov. 3 news release.
Nursing landscape: 11 statistics making ASC execs nervous
Recruiting and retaining great nursing staff are challenges for many surgery centers and hospitals across the U.S.
2021
November/December 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
First-ever ranking of all 50 states by ASC per capita
The number of ASCs is growing across the U.S. as patients and payers demand more outpatient surgery, and the national population is growing overall while state populations continue to shift.
How USPI is pulling ahead of competitors in the ASC industry
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare continues to ramp up its surgery center business after its subsidiary United Surgical Partners International announced an agreement to acquire a stake in nine ASCs in North Carolina, Texas and Florida.
CMS finalizes 2022 rules with 255 procedures removed from ASC-payable list
CMS on Nov. 2 finalized the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System final rule for 2022.
Staffing & supply chain: ASC leader's key winter concerns
Staffing shortages amid COVID-19 surges and supply chain disruptions are two of the biggest upcoming concerns for ASCs.
Will physician shortages threaten independent ASC ownership?
The U.S. is expected to reach a shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034, and more than 2 of 5 active physicians will be older than 65 in the next decade.
8 largest health insurers by revenue — UnitedHealthcare No. 1 at $257B
Health insurance companies generate revenue through the premiums they charge, the number of policies they write, the services they sell and the number of businesses in which they operate.
18% of healthcare workers have quit jobs during pandemic: Morning Consult
Since February 2020, nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers, or 18 percent, have quit their jobs, according to new poll results from Morning Consult, a global privately held data intelligence company.
Why a patient traveled 1,300 miles for procedure at Oklahoma ASC
Pennsylvania resident Ruth Clarke traveled 1,300 miles for hip surgery at Surgery Center of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City for an operation with upfront pricing she could better afford, Sunday news program Full Measure reported Oct. 3.
3 key trends driving ASC market growth
The global ASC market is expected to reach $117 billion by 2027, up from $75.7 billion in 2020, primarily driven by an increase in the number of surgical procedures that can be performed at ASCs, according to a September report from Global Market Insights.
New $300M Florida ASC expected to create nearly 600 jobs in 5 years
AdventHealth opened its $300 million Tampa Bay, Fla.-based Taneja Surgery Center on Oct. 12, according to Bay News 9. The ASC is one of the area's largest medical projects ever completed.
Illinois hospital closing ASC cites low volume, COVID-19 strain
Red Bud (Ill.) Regional Hospital intends to close the Monroe County Surgical Center in Waterloo, Ill., citing low volume and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Republic-Times reported Oct. 6.
October 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
99 ASC benchmarks to know | 2021
Here are 99 operations, finance and quality benchmarks in ASCs gathered from several sources across the industry.
How Walmart and Amazon's healthcare moves may affect ASCs
Walmart and Amazon have made big moves in recent years to expand their presence in the healthcare industry.
The biggest threats to ASCs today
ASCs have faced multiple challenges since the pandemic began in March 2020, from limited elective procedures and temporary center closures to staff furloughs and high personal protective equipment costs.
Payers shifting strategy to keep physicians independent
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan added a physician management services business to its portfolio in early August, following a trend of insurance companies seeking to partner with or employ physician groups to keep them independent of hospitals.
9 procedures CMS plans to keep on office-based payable list
The proposed 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System, released July 19, outlined nine procedures slated to temporarily remain on CMS' office-based payable list in 2022.
13 fastest growing private ASC, physician companies, per Inc. 5000
Thirteen ASC and physician practice groups or management companies appeared on Inc. 5000's 2021 list of fastest-growing private companies.
$17M medical office building, ASC sold in Florida
Two affiliates of Montecito Medical Real Estate sold a two-story medical office building in Weston, Fla. for $17.2 million, The Real Deal reported Sept. 2.
What are GI's biggest disruptors?
Seven gastroenterology leaders spoke with Becker's ASC Review on what they see as the biggest disruptor in the GI industry.
24-clinic Florida practice files for bankruptcy
Boca Raton, Fla.-based Path Medical has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with $86.5 million in liabilities, South Florida Business Journal reported Sept. 2.
Patients save an average $684 per procedure at ASCs, UnitedHealth says
Shifting routine outpatient procedures to ASCs can save commercially insured patients $684 on average per procedure, according to a Sept. 8 report from UnitedHealth Group.
September/October 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 of the largest ASC chains in the US | 2021
Many of the largest ASC chains in the U.S. grew last year during the pandemic.
The ASC-hospital power shift: Who will win the next 3-5 years?
In 2020, more complex surgeries rapidly moved into ASCs as hospitals were overburdened with COVID-19 cases.
Why restoring the inpatient-only list is good for ASCs & more wins in CMS pay proposal
CMS proposed several changes to the 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System that reverse policies many considered favorable to ASCs.
ASCs are growing, but 5 threats remain
ASCs had a breakout year in 2020 as more cases migrated to outpatient centers while inpatient hospitals focused on COVID-19 patients.
ASC sues to block hospital's 'anticompetitive' acquisition: 5 details
A Marion, Ill.-based multispecialty ASC is testing President Joe Biden's executive order to scrutinize and halt acquisitions that would limit competition and increase healthcare prices.
What's worrying ASC leaders?
ASC leaders are navigating extensive industry shifts — from the recent surge in COVID-19 cases to CMS removing 258 procedures from the ASC payable list.
12 most-recruited physician specialties
Merritt Hawkins released its list of the most recruited physician and advanced practice specialties for 2021 Aug. 9.
Orthopedic surgeon's $9M win against Texas ASC overturned
An orthopedic surgeon’s multimillion-dollar win against a Texas surgery center has been taken back.
USPI, AmSurg & more: large ASC chains by the numbers
Here's the number of ASCs, affiliated positions and states with centers for seven of the largest ASC chains:
70% of physicians are now employed by hospitals or corporations
By the end of 2020, almost 70 percent of physicians reported being employed, and there was a steep acceleration of physicians joining hospitals or corporate entities in the last six months of the year.
The tech changing the ASC industry: Leaders weigh in
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the push for ASCs to update technology to meet patients' needs remotely, as well as the migration of new surgical innovations like artificial intelligence and robotics to ASCs.
July/August 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 of the largest ASC chains in the US | 2021
Many of the largest ASC chains in the U.S. grew last year during the pandemic.
10 issues ASC execs are obsessing over
The healthcare ecosystem is changing rapidly and administrators are following 10 big trends to prepare for the future.
What ASCs can expect from CMS in the next year
The federal government was relatively friendly to ASCs during the Trump administration, with CMS paying for more types of surgery in ASCs and HHS loosening regulations on how centers could practice during the pandemic.
New reasons insurers are denying payment
Commercial insurers are changing their policies to deny hospitals and ASCs payment for services deemed unnecessary or lacking enough evidence to move forward.
OIG advisory opinions ASCs need to know
Over the past decade, the HHS Office of Inspector General has issued several warnings of potential fraud and abuse risks with physician-owned distributorships, which often include ASCs.
USPI vs. AmSurg vs. SCA: 8 key comparisons
United Surgical Partners International, AmSurg and Surgical Care Affiliates are among the longest-lasting and largest ASC chains in the U.S.
Risk aversion, noncompliance + more: 8 internal threats ASCs should know
Pinpointing and addressing internal threats is critical for ASCs to operate successfully and deliver optimal patient care.
Are ASCs becoming less physician-friendly?
ASCs are known as nimble, physician-centric organizations founded by surgeons who wanted more control over the surgical episode and patient experience. They often attract new partners and cases because they can cater to surgeon requests.
Caseload decline for 6 ASC specialties
Dermatology saw one of the sharpest declines in average number of patients seen by physicians per week from before COVID-19 to now.
7 financial opportunities for ASCs
Six administrators spoke with Becker's ASC Review about financial opportunities they see in the ASC industry.
23-clinic pain practice in California closes without explanation
A chain of pain management clinics suddenly shut its doors May 14, according to The Modesto Bee.
June 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 ways gastroenterology will be affected long after the pandemic
Gastroenterology saw enormous setbacks during the pandemic — colorectal cancer screening procedures dropped more than 80 percent in the early stages of COVID-19.
Employers, fed up with insurance companies, turn to ASCs
Employers are increasingly interested in direct contracting with surgery centers through regional and national contracts, and ASCs are ready partners as high quality, low cost sites of care.
The OIG's ASC joint-venture opinion: 10 deep-dive details
The HHS Office of Inspector General issued a favorable opinion approving a joint-venture ASC arrangement between physicians, a management company and health systems last month.
10 big challenges for ASCs
One year ago, many ASCs were closed or at limited case volume to divert resources to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
Hospitals aren't rushing to buy ASCs; here's what's happening instead
The pandemic accelerated the migration of surgical procedures to the outpatient setting, and many hospital executives are expanding their outpatient strategies. But that doesn't mean they're eager to buy ASCs.
What procedures are migrating to ASCs?
COVID-19 has accelerated the migration of surgeries to the outpatient setting, and many administrators expect the trend to continue.
The most expensive ASC projects so far in 2021
Becker's ASC Review has reported on seven new ASC projects that are expected to cost at least $25 million so far this year.
New York BCBS policy change drives surgery to ASCs
Empire BlueCross BlueShield in New York updated its coverage policy this year to drive more surgical procedures to ASCs.
29 physician specialties ranked by annual compensation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care physicians earned an average annual compensation of $242,000 and specialists earned an average of $344,000 — a decrease of $1,000 and $2,000, respectively, compared to before the public health crisis hit.
What it takes for ASCs to win over new spine surgeon investors
As more spine procedures migrate to the outpatient setting, some spine surgeons will consider investing in ASCs. Although a daunting idea for surgeons, there are factors ASCs can focus on to draw the eyes of spine surgeons.
May/June 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
530+ ASCs with total joint replacements
Here are 530+ ASCs wtih total joint replacements in 2021
10 factors that can make or break an ASC in the next 2 years
The pandemic affected ASC case volume and operations in several ways in the last year, with some centers adapting while others are struggling to stay afloat.
The smartest thing 7 ASC execs did last year
Last year the pandemic forced many ASCs to close or limit surgical volume, but enterprising administrators took the time as an opportunity to evaluate their growth strategy, improve culture, acquire new technology and become more efficient.
'Newsweek' ranks America's Best ASCs in 25 states
Newsweek partnered with global research firm Statista to identify the 400 best ASCs in 25 states with the most facilities.
ASC finances in 2021: 6 observations
ASC owners and operators faced challenges last year when elective surgeries were limited across the U.S.
Is the future bright or dark for independent ASCs?
ASCs have given surgeons and patients a safe environment for surgeries during the pandemic, but the centers suffered financially when case volumes were limited last spring.
14 states with highest average pay for physicians and surgeons
Physicians in Maine receive the highest average compensation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics' occupational employment statistics survey.
Feds eye $147M paid to ASC, clinic owner for uninsured COVID-19 patient treatment
A California surgeon's medical practice and ASCs received about $147 million in government funds meant for facilities treating uninsured COVID-19 patients, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The biggest threat to physician ownership — 3 physicians share
Self-employed physicians continue to face risks as new physicians tend to gravitate toward the benefits of employed models.
Dr. Jeffrey Carlson performs 3-level lumbar fusion at Virginia ASC
Jeffrey Carlson, MD, performed a three-level lumbar fusion on a 37-year-old patient at Newport News-based Coastal Virginia Surgery Center.
March/April 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
15 things to know about total joint replacements and ASCs | 2021
More total joint replacements are migrating to the outpatient and ASC setting following CMS payment updates and more studies showing the procedure can be performed safely in the outpatient setting.
Is the payer outlook bright or dark for ASCs?
While some ASC administrators have seen payers become more accepting of outpatient surgeries and drive cases to the ASC, others report continued challenges in contract negotiations.
Thousands of physicians joined 3 big ASC chains in 2020
Three large ASC companies added physicians in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How 2 independent practices are thriving in an increasingly consolidated environment
In December 2020, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare reached a deal to acquire 45 ASCs from Nashville, Tenn.-based SurgCenter Development for $1.1 billion, intensifying the efforts of major ASC management companies and private equity-backed platforms to drive consolidation in the industry.
What patients pay for 10 common ASC procedures
CMS lists the average amount patients pay for common procedures performed in both ASCs and hospital outpatient departments.
16 physicians exit North Carolina health system
Sixteen physicians have plans to leave Mission Health over the next few months, according to a report in The Transylvania Times.
Spinal fusions and ASCs: 8 notes for 2021
The number of spinal fusions performed in ASCs is growing as more surgeons, patients and payers become comfortable with the procedure in the outpatient setting.
Optum to add 10,000 physicians & 3 other growth strategy details
UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann outlined how Optum, which includes Surgical Care Affiliates, will grow in the coming year during a Jan. 20 earnings call, as transcribed by Seeking Alpha.
10 high-paying cities for private practice orthopedic surgeons
Private practice orthopedic surgeons are paid the most in Savannah, Ga., according to Medscape's online salary comparison tool, the physician salary explorer.
14 key thoughts on bundled payments in spine surgery
Fourteen insights on bundled payments in spine, including CMS changes in 2021 and thoughts from five prominent surgeons:
February 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 cities with biggest annual physician pay growth
Doximity noted physician compensation grew the highest in Providence, R.I., over in the last year.
What 6 ASC leaders think about industry consolidation
Nearly half of independent physicians think consolidation in healthcare is inevitable, according to a survey from McKinsey & Co., but the overwhelming majority of small and independent practice owners believe they should fight to stay independent. Physician-owned ASCs face similar pressures to merge with larger organizations to survive, especially amid the pandemic. Here are thoughts from six ASC industry leaders about consolidation.
What hospitals posting rates online means for ASCs
On Jan. 1, a new regulation requiring hospitals to post payer-specific negotiated rates for 300 services kicked in.
Thriving in outpatient joint replacements: 5 expert insights
Orthopedic surgery in ASCs has continued to accelerate over the past year. Looking ahead in 2021, Becker's ASC Review asked surgeons what they think is needed to thrive in the outpatient total joint replacement space.
Physician growth slowing as demand climbs: 8 things to know
The number of physicians practicing in the U.S. is growing slowly compared to the population growth projections over the next decade-plus, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Louisiana cardiology ASC completes 1st procedure
Interventional cardiologist Craig Walker, MD, completed the first outpatient procedure at Houma, La.-based Cardiovascular Institute of the South's new ASC, Vascular Disease Management reported Jan. 5.
2 eye surgery centers join Florida group
Two eye surgery centers merged with Fort Myers, Fla.-based Quigley Eye Specialists, according to a Jan. 13 report from Fort Myers Florida Weekly.
12 ASC expansions in 2020
Here are 12 ASCs that opened or announced expansions in 2020:
Tenet's strategic shift to ASCs: 5 details
Tenet is moving away from high-cost, lower margin hospitals and deepening its portfolio of lower cost, higher margin ASCs.
9 stats on gastroenterologist salary, net worth, jobs & more
Here are nine things to know about income, net worth, starting salary, payer models and jobs for gastroenterologists:
January/February 2021 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
7 most interesting ASC industry deals of 2020
The pandemic quieted ASC deals midyear, but there have been several fascinating transactions in the second half of 2020.
The trends shaping the ASC landscape in 2021
While the pandemic has underscored the value of ASCs, they will continue battling reimbursement limitations, logistical challenges and consequences of COVID-19 going into 2021, according to Bill Prentice, CEO of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
USPI to offload urgent care platform in 2021
On the heels of a $1.1 billion deal to acquire up to 45 ASCs from SurgCenter Development, Tenet Healthcare is planning to sell its urgent care platform in the first quarter of 2021.
11 biggest surgery center projects in 2020 by cost
This year, at least 11 developments involving an ASC or outpatient surgery center represented an investment of $50 million or more.
38 ASC industry exec moves in 2020
There were 38 leadership moves at ASCs and management companies in 2020:
Tenet's strategic shift to ASCs: 5 details
Tenet is moving away from high-cost, lower margin hospitals and deepening its portfolio of lower cost, higher margin ASCs.
Appeals court allows California surgery center to seek $1M+ in unpaid claims
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Appeals Court allowed Los Angeles-based Beverly Oaks Physicians Surgery Center to seek unpaid claims from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, reversing a decision from a district court, according to a Dec. 17 court filing.
Orthopedic surgeon compensation, net worth & gender wage gap — 20 insights for 2020
Here are 20 insights on orthopedic surgeon compensation, net worth, the gender wage gap and more, drawn from four separate reports:
GI in 2021 — What 6 gastroenterologists think is in store for the specialty
As a year unlike any other comes to a close, several trends emerged in gastroenterology over the past year that will continue to emerge in 2021. Here, six gastroenterologists share their predictions on the future of the specialty:
2020
November/December 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The 11 specialties that haven't recovered from COVID-19
While most outpatient specialties have recovered from COVID-19-related delays, some are still struggling, according to a study from Commonwealth Fund.
ASCs in the next 5 years: 3 expert insights
Healthcare is going through significant changes due to the pandemic and ASCs are in a prime position to thrive.
6 new cardiology ASCs, outpatient facilities
Six cardiology-focused ASCs and outpatient facilities opened or announced since mid-August:
ASC plans $12.8M relocation, build-out in Nashville — 3 details
Nashville-based Specialty Surgery Center expects to invest more than $12.8 million into a relocation and facility build-out, according to Intelligence360 News.
'Newsweek' ranks America's Best ASCs in 25 states
Newsweek partnered with global research firm Statista to identify the 400 best ASCs in 25 states with the most facilities.
SCA centers added 1,000+ new surgeons in 2020 so far: 5 things to know
Surgical Care Affiliates helped propel Optum's 12 percent year-over-year increase in quarterly earnings for the third quarter as it continues to add surgeons and services amid the pandemic.
Texas practice performs 2 heart procedures in ASC setting
Waco-based Heart of Texas Surgery Center recently performed two heart procedures in an ASC, according to administrator Debbie Smith.
How Google ranks top spine surgeons
A group of researchers examined how Google ranks top spine surgeons and published their findings in Spine.
6 spine surgeons on the biggest obstacle they face going forward
Insurance companies and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the issues at the forefront of spine surgeons' minds. Here, six surgeons discuss the biggest obstacles to the specialty going forward.
Gastro Health partners with 2 practices, expands into Ohio
Miami-based Gastro Health partnered with Cincinnati-based Ohio Gastroenterology & Liver Institute and Woodbridge, Va.-based Associates in Gastroenterology in two separate deals, the platform announced Oct. 1.
October 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
3 ASCs launching total joint programs
Since the beginning of August, Becker's ASC Review has reported on three ASCs launching total joint programs:
ASC payer markets and trends: 5 leaders share key thoughts for 2021 and beyond
Five ASC owners and operators outline their payer mix and what they anticipate for future reimbursement trends.
Kaiser closing ASC, ending GI services at Hawaii clinic
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is closing an ASC and ending gastroenterology services at Wailuku (Hawaii) Medical Office, The Maui News reports.
The ASC/OBL cardiology model — 2 industry experts answer 5 Qs
Changing federal and state rules are driving a rapid migration of cardiology procedures to the outpatient setting, according to ECG Management Consultants Principal Naya Kehayes and Associate Principal Sean Hartzell.
How the pandemic is affecting physician income
Sixty-two percent of physicians in the U.S. report their income has decreased since the pandemic began, according to the Medscape "US and International Physicians' COVID-19 Experience Report."
30% of ASCs have operating budget under $5M: 8 statistics
The annual operating budget for ASCs fluctuated from 2019 to 2020 for many centers, with more centers reporting less than $1 million and more reporting $10 million or above, according to OR Manager's "2020 Career & Salary Survey."
Where Walmart plans to open 10 health centers
Walmart Health said it is opening several new locations in the coming months in Georgia, Chicago and Florida.
$900M Minnesota hospital project with surgery center pushed back
Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health has pushed back its project in Duluth to accommodate an expansion, Fox 21 reports.
Medicare to save $73.4B with surgery in ASCs through 2028: 5 things to know
A new report from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association shows performing surgery on Medicare patients in ASCs instead of hospital outpatient departments saved $4.2 billion in 2018, and the savings are expected to climb significantly in the next decade.
Surgery Partners sells select anesthesia services businesses: 4 details
Surgery Partners sold some of its anesthesia services business to Anesthesia Consulting & Management, known as NorthStar Anesthesia.
September/October 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 most expensive ASC procedures
A breast reconstruction procedure was the most expensive procedure done at ASCs in 2019, according to a Definitive Healthcare ranking.
20 bold predictions about the ASC industry over the next 5 years
Twenty ASC owners, administrators and operators share one bold prediction about new specialties and procedures, mergers and acquisitions, and overall outlook for the ASC industry.
How CMS' proposals could affect ASCs in 2021
CMS released its proposals for 2021 in early August, which made several drastic cuts to payment rates for both general and specialty surgeons.
Walmart Health is expanding: 5 things for ASC execs to know
Walmart continues to grow in the healthcare space.
'Newsweek' to rank the best ASCs in 25 states: 5 details
Newsweek is partnering with global research firm Statista to rank the country's best ASCs.
Top-paying jobs in 2020 — Surgeons are No. 1
Healthcare dominates the list of best-paying occupations in 2020, according to a CEOWorld Magazine ranking.
'We want people to understand why we're upset' — 5 surgery, specialty group leaders on CMS' proposed 2021 fee schedule
CMS released its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for 2021 Aug. 3, which could result in drastic cuts for surgeons across the board.
Texas ASC files for bankruptcy — 3 details
San Antonio-based Babcock Surgical Center filed for bankruptcy, according to the San Antonio Business Journal.
7 big trends in GI this year — COVID-19's effect, compensation & more
With the dog days of summer in the rear view, gastroenterology has had a specialty-changing year severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the specialty is gradually recovering and moving forward. Here are seven trends that will shape the specialty going forward:
8 statistics on ASC leader pay: 53% make $120,000+
ASC leaders are reporting an increase in annual compensation in 2020, according to OR Manager's "2020 Career & Salary Survey."
Surgery Partners names new vice president of integration
Surgery Partners welcomed Steve Marshall as vice president of integration, according to an Aug. 17 LinkedIn post.
AmSurg taps cardiology leader as next president — 3 details
Jeff Snodgrass will be the new president of AmSurg, one of the country's largest ASC operators and the ambulatory division of Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare.
July/August 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 best states for physicians to practice | 2020
Medscape released its 2020 "Best & Worst Places to Practice" list, examining compensation, practice conditions and quality of life across the U.S.
Outlook for ASCs in the next 6-12 months: Key trends and concepts from SCA's Dr. Dan Murrey
Dan Murrey, MD, is a pioneer in the ASC industry and at the forefront of growing centers across the country as the chief medical officer of Surgical Care Affiliates.
Vision Group Holdings filed for bankruptcy first — could more be next? Insights from Provident experts
West Palm Beach, Fla.-based and private equity-backed Vision Group Holdings said the COVID-19 pandemic worsened its financial issues when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the beginning of June. As the ramifications of the virus continue to make themselves known, will this be a one-time occurrence or the beginning of a chain of similar filings?
ValueHealth opens surgery center with Rothman Orthopaedics, 2 other health systems
Leawood, Kan.-based ValueHealth has opened Physicians Care Surgery Center in Royersford, Pa., according to a June 22 press release.
Former USPI CFO alleges he was fired for blowing the whistle on Tenet's 'improper financial reporting'
The former CFO of United Surgical Partners International alleges he was fired in retaliation for reporting potential securities law violations, according to a lawsuit filed June 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Eye surgeon charged in $637,200 COVID-19 loan fraud scheme: 6 details
A New York eye surgeon has been indicted, accused of fraudulently accepting two Paycheck Protection Program loans associated with COVID-19 relief for which he was ineligible, according to a news release from The U.S. Department of Justice Southern District of New York.
Registered nurse salary for all 50 states — California No. 1 at $113,240
The average salary for registered nurses across the country is $77,460, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data collected in May 2019.
AAAHC's 5 most common deficiencies during surveys & more insights
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare released its 2020 Quality Roadmap, which identifies high-compliance areas and improvement opportunities from surveys conducted in 2019.
11 facts and statistics on ophthalmology and ophthalmologists | 2020
Here are 11 things to know about ophthalmology and ophthalmologists.
June 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The 'new normal' for ASCs: 16 admins on how the pandemic will change the field forever
Sixteen ASC administrators project what the "new normal" will be at their centers as a result of the pandemic.
Texas eye practice retained all 450 employees during shutdowns, prepares to reopen
With the help of telemedicine, Houston-based Berkeley Eye Center was able to retain its entire workforce of 450 employees during practice shutdowns forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
USPI has seen 40% of pre-pandemic cases as ASCs reopen, Tenet says
USPI reported surgical cases dropped 28.6 percent in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit just as the company was reporting accelerated growth. But its centers are beginning to reopen and USPI has seen around 40 percent of its pre-COVID-19 cases, the company reported.
Top 29 physician salaries for 2020
Medscape released its Physician Compensation Report 2020, examining how COVID-19 affected clinician salaries. Medscape surveyed 17,461 clinicians across more than 30 specialties from across the U.S. between Oct. 4, 2019, to Feb. 10, 2020. Gastroenterologists made up 2 percent of survey respondents.
Cardiology society supports migration of select cardiology procedures to ASCs
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions issued a statement in support of CMS' decision to allow select percutaneous coronary interventions to be performed in the ASC setting.
5 things to know about surprise billing during the COVID-19 pandemic
The days of surprise medical billing may be numbered due to emerging legislation around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Envision parent KKR sets sights on new transactions: 5 things to know
Deal-making is on the horizon for KKR, the parent company of Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare, according to Bloomberg.
New Mexico orthopedic practice closes
Las Cruces (N.M.) Orthopaedic Associates will shut down permanently May 11 as a result of "unforeseen circumstances" potentially tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice announced May 4.
Spine surgery in the next 3 months: 6 observations
Here are six observations for spine surgeons on the COVID-19 pandemic and where the industry is headed in the next several months.
May/June 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Life after ramp-up: How COVID-19 will change ASCs forever
In certain states, the COVID-19 pandemic curve is shrinking and calls to restart elective surgery programs are growing louder by the day.
Outpatient joint replacements to 'skyrocket over next 10 years,' says Dr. Richard Berger
The Western Society of Engineers recently recognized orthopedic surgeon Richard Berger, MD, with the 2020 Washington Award for his contributions to joint replacement.
The story behind Webster Equity Partners' deal to partner with Gastro One
Private equity firm Webster Equity Partners partnered with Memphis, Tenn.-based Gastro One April 8, creating gastroenterology's seventh PE-backed platform, One GI, in the process.
6 details on MedPAC's report to Congress: Number of ASCs up 2.6% in 2018 and more
MedPAC released its 2020 report, including recommendations to maintain beneficiary access to ASC services and requiring ASCs, keeping providers under financial pressure to constrain costs and require centers to submit cost data.
UnitedHealthcare, Optum accelerating $2B in provider payments & support — 6 details
UnitedHealth Group is accelerating nearly $2 billion in payments and financial support to U.S. healthcare providers through its UnitedHealthcare and Optum subsidiaries, according to an April 7 announcement.
US ASC market to hit $84.1B by 2027 — 4 market insights
The U.S. ASC market could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6 percent through 2027, reaching a value of $84.1 billion, according to a report by Coherent Market Insights.
Surgery Partners Q1 revenue up 5.8%, received $45M in CARES Act funding: 6 details
Surgery partners reported revenues were up in the first quarter based on the company's success before the pandemic hit.
Outpatient spine surgery: 8 things to know heading into 2020
Spine surgery in ASCs is becoming more common as procedures become less invasive and payers are more willing to reimburse for spine cases in the outpatient setting.
From preparation to ramp-up: United Digestive shares its COVID-19 plans
Private equity-backed management service organization United Digestive responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in full force and has begun talks on how it will restart its practice once the pandemic begins to subside.
March/April 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
14 things to know about total joint replacements and ASCs for 2020
The volume of total joint replacements in ASCs is increasing. The shift to value-based care, insurance coverage expansion and studies showing good patient outcomes in the outpatient setting are just some of the trends driving total joints outpatient.
North Carolina passes over major providers, grants CON to spine surgery center, orthopedic practice
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services approved certificate-of-need applications from Wake Spine and Specialty Surgery Center and Triangle Orthopaedics Surgery Center, passing over some of the region's largest healthcare institutions, Triangle Business Journal reports.
Envision snags Optum president to lead company — 4 insights
OptumCare President James Rechtin is moving to Nashville, Tenn., to take the helm of Envision Healthcare.
5 largest health insurance companies by membership
UnitedHealthcare is the largest insurer in the U.S. by membership, according to VeryWell health.
MedPAC recommends cutting 2.8% surgery center reimbursement increase, requiring price reporting
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission plans to recommend CMS eliminate a 2.8 percent pay increase for surgery centers in its report to Congress March 13, citing issues around surgery center finances, Bloomberg Law reports.
Hoag expands into Los Angeles County with surgery center partnership
Hoag Orthopedic Institute partnered with Diagnostic and Interventional Surgery Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif., marking the health system's first expansion into Los Angeles County.
Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center acquired by PeaceHealth: 4 details
PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wash., plans to acquire Bellingham, Wash.-based Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center in a deal expected to finalize in March or April, according to the Bellingham Herald.
Omar Ishrak's tenure at Medtronic: 5 of the biggest partnerships, product launches
Omar Ishrak's nearly 10-year tenure as chairman and CEO of Medtronic will come to an end when he retires April 26. During Mr. Ishrak's time at Medtronic, the company's annual revenues doubled, and its market capitalization increased by more than $100 billion.
Gastro Health makes 3 acquisitions, including 2nd Virginia practice
Miami-based Gastro Health made a trio of acquisitions, including the group's second acquisition in Virginia, to kick off 2020.
February Isse of Becker's ASC Review
State-by-state breakdown of the 177 new ASCs opened or announced in 2019
More than 180 ASCs have opened or been announced since January. Here's a breakdown by location.
Investment firm acquires ASC, 3 ophthalmology practices in St. Louis
The Firmament Group, an investment firm specializing in small and medium-sized businesses, invested in an ASC and three ophthalmology practices in St. Louis and appointed a CEO to lead its eyecare strategy. The investment adds to Firmament's portfolio of ophthalmology practices in South Florida and Northern California. Jim Wachtman will be CEO.
21 highest physician salaries — Orthopedics is No. 1 at $426K
Medpage Today released results from its Fall 2019 Salary Survey. Health Media collected more than 12,500 survey responses, including 5,308 with salary information.
TeamHealth acquires private anesthesia practice operations for Florida ASC
Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth will provide anesthesia services at Brandon (Fla.) Surgery Center through a partnership with Jon Harmon, MD, and his team.
What private equity has in store for GI in 2020
Gastroenterology investment dominated the specialty in 2019, with no signs of slowing down in 2020. Here, NextServices President and Co-founder Praveen Suthrum examined the current PE landscape in GI and offered insights into the future.
15 things to know about Amazon's healthcare strategy heading into 2020
Over the past year, Amazon has made several big partnerships and investments in the healthcare space, which will likely continue into the new decade.
Gastroenterology in 2030: What the specialty will look like in 10 years
As the decade comes to a close in gastroenterology, the specialty has never been at a point of more promise. Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are decreasing as screening rates increase; the introduction of machine learning into the specialty is happening at a rapid pace; and the public has never been more aware of the importance of gut health.
Leapfrog's inaugural ASC survey 'disheartening,' has 'little value,' administrators say
With more than 60 percent of surgeries taking place in ASCs and outpatient units, The Leapfrog Group decided earlier this year to begin collecting quality and safety data on the increasingly popular facilities. Initially, the effort was met with enthusiasm.
Optum partners with Minnesota health system to develop ASCs
ASC operator Optum finalized a partnership with Allina Health System in Minneapolis in December, paving the way for the potential development of up to a dozen new surgery centers in the next five years, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
CMS will reimburse ASCs for 6 coronary intervention procedures in 2020 — 5 things to know
CMS will pay for certain angioplasty and stenting procedures in ASCs beginning Jan. 1, under its 2020 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and ASC Payment System Final Rule. Five things to know.
How consolidation will affect the ASC industry: Dr. Scott Fowler weighs in
Scott Fowler, MD, is the president and CEO of Holston Medical Group, which recently opened the Renaissance Surgery Center in Bristol, Tenn. Here, Dr. Fowler shares his thoughts on consolidation in the industry, and how he hopes the Renaissance Surgery Center will grow in the future.
ASC valuation + common misconceptions about 'fair market value': 2 key insights
VMG Health's Taryn Nasr, director, and Savanna Dinkel, senior analyst, spoke to Becker's ASC Review about the ASC valuation process and common misconceptions.
Stryker bets on extremities, to buy Wright Medical for $5.4B: 5 key notes
Stryker signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wright Medical Group for $5.4 billion. Five things to know.
Why Arizona Digestive Health joined the GI Alliance
Dallas-based GI Alliance, led by President Jim Weber, MD, has aggressively expanded since first closing its deal with Waud Capital Partners, recently acquiring Phoenix-based Arizona Digestive Health.
29 best-managed healthcare companies
Twenty-nine healthcare companies made the Management Top 250, a ranking that measures corporate effectiveness developed by the Drucker Institute.
20 key trends and concepts for ASCs heading into 2020
1. From the last 10 years up to the last two years or so there’s been almost no growth in the total number of Medicare-certified surgery centers. This is largely because a lot of independent physicians already owned a surgery center or because physicians became employed by health systems and thus weren't able to invest in a surgery center.
Jury awards $1.6M to Iowa surgery center in anti-competition case
Pierce Street Same Day Surgery was awarded $1.6 million in damages after a jury ruled that its CEO conspired with a competing physician group to develop a new surgery center, the Sioux City Journal reports.
What you should know.
3 changes in Medicare's 2020 final rule affecting GI practices
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy outlined how the CMS final rule for 2020 will affect gastroenterologists. Three details.
2019
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Kaiser Permanente Washington planning new 165,000-square-foot ASC — 3 insights
Seattle-based Kaiser Permanente Washington is in the process of closing deals for three properties in Everett, Wash., it plans to redevelop, MyEverettNews.com reports. What you should know:
Salary differences between practice owners, employed physicians
Doximity released its 2019 physician compensation report comparing average salary differences between specialties, as well as how salary compares for employed physicians and those who own their own practice.
An ASC costing $31M brought together 3 competing entities — 5 things to know
More than 2,000 operations have been performed at the Surgery Center at Shrewsbury (Mass.) since it opened in May 2018, according to Worcester Business Journal.
The top, bottom revenue-generating specialties for hospitals
Cardiovascular surgeons generate the most revenue for hospitals on average, according to Merritt Hawkins' 2019 Inpatient/Outpatient Revenue Survey.
The ASCs that have closed in 2019
Becker's ASC Review has covered the closing of 16 ASCs this year. They include:
3 Alabama hospitals halt admissions after ransomware attack
All three Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based DCH Health System hospitals are temporarily closed to new patients due to a targeted Oct. 1 ransomware attack.
Where 3 ASCs are focusing budgets, attention for 2020
Three ASC leaders discuss the big strategies for their centers next year, including the focus of their 2020 budgets and what they plan to improve.
Outlook on ASC consolidation + 3 things to prepare for in the future
Matthew Searles, partner at Merritt Healthcare Advisors, discusses key trends for ASCs today and where the industry is headed.
Walmart is coming to gastroenterology — 5 insights
Walmart is leveraging its million-person-strong health plan to develop a featured provider network it's testing in Northwest Arkansas, Dallas and Orlando, Fla., TB&P reports.
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Tenet/USPI ambulatory revenue up 5.3% in Q2 — 6 things to know
Tenet's ambulatory care segment revenue increased 5.3 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2019, the company reported on Aug. 5.
4 quotes from HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen on outpatient caseload
HCA Healthcare grew its outpatient caseload 3 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2019, which contributed to the company posting $12.6 billion in revenues for the quarter.
Optum adds new partnership model to outpatient strategy with latest health system deal - 3 insights
Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Optum has broken from its pattern of acquiring physician practices, outpatient clinics, urgent care facilities and surgery centers with plans to take over John Muir Health's non-clinical functions, according to Forbes contributor Bruce Japsen.
Meet the head neurosurgeon for Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Dr. Matthew MacDougall
Tesla founder Elon Musk hired Matthew MacDougall, MD, a practicing neurosurgeon, to participate in a new project to develop a brain-computer interface technology and advance treatment for brain disorders, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The 5 states most & least likely to face a physician shortage
States in the West and South may be more likely to face a physician shortage than those on the East Coast, according to a survey by the Senior List cited by Merritt Hawkins.
CMS may pay for total knees, 6 heart procedures at ASCs in 2020
CMS released its 2020 outpatient and ASC prospective payment system proposed rule, ushering in several changes for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments.
ASC revenue cycle, revisited - best ideas today
Revenue cycle management is a crucial aspect of running a successful ASC.
Physicians Endoscopy, Capital Digestive Care team up to create management platform
Physicians Endoscopy and Capital Digestive Care entered into a strategic partnership Aug. 1, which saw the two companies form a management platform.
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
18-physician group, 2 New York hospitals advance $8M ASC project; How private equity investment affects ASC value & 4 other key trends; The state of SurgCenter Development — COO Dr. Greg Fox offers 4 insights; Where US physicians earned the most in 2018; Ohio ASC to close, reopen as joint venture: 4 details; Aetna to change ASC payment process — 3 details; Amulet forms US Digestive Health through PE investment — 5 insights; How OptumCare aims to become a $100B business in the next 10 years; The outpatient cardiology shift is coming; CMS proposes adding total knee replacements to ASC covered procedures list for 2020, increases payment rates; USPI sells 2 ASCs, reports revenue per case up 3% in Q1; Physician buys 2 Illinois ASCs' assets for $50K after one halts operations; USPI taps CFO from Goldman Sachs — 4 quick facts; Surgical center building changes hands for $7M; Buyer pays $15.4M for Kansas ASC — 3 quick points; CHI Franciscan to divest ASC, pay $2.5M to settle lawsuit: 5 things to know; How ASC acquisitions may change over the next year; Physician group's bankruptcy exit, rebuild involves closing surgery center — 4 details; Which states pay GIs the most?; The statistics to know about ASC revenue, out-of-network billing strategy & risk; The deal days of summer — Edgemont's Luke Mitchell on the past, present & future of GI PE investment; The 10 best, worst states for health system performance; 2nd cyberattack at Maryland surgery center affects more than 2,000 patients; Pennsylvania's $12.5M tax on ASCs could cause dozens to close, lawmaker says — 5 key points; The top, bottom 5 states for RN pay; Avoid unnecessary rework and expenses by improving the patient registration processes: 5 steps for front-desk staff; Surgery Partners CFO: 5 keys for the future — payer partnerships, future acquisitions & more; The trend to outpatient surgery, risk-bearing contracts for orthopedic surgeons: Key thoughts from Dr. Louis Levitt; Why ASCs will succeed in value-based care + more insights from a Florida ASC administrator; Woodholme Gastroenterology Associates COO explains patient collections & ASC growth; Core concepts for ASC growth, success today: Q&A with Merritt Healthcare's Matt Searles; 25 joint venture ASCs in 2019 — State-by-state breakdown; Surgical Care Affiliates plans to add 20 ASCs with value-based growth strategy — 5 insight; 13 physicians join 3-way joint venture for orthopedics-focused ASC in Missouri: 5 key notes; Atlanta ENT group with 2 ASCs partners with PE firm for regional growth: 5 details; The ASC payer landscape: 4 Qs with Administrator Chris Markford; New Mexico joint venture to open orthopedic ASC — 3 insights; 5 thoughts for a joint-venture ASC + key concepts for building a strong operational structure; Augusta University Medical Center buys remaining ASC shares for $2M+ from University Hospital, physicians: 4 details; The changing bundled payment landscape for ASCs — What to know about risk, payers & future trends; Key trends in ASC payer policy, reimbursement and out-ofnetwork today; Humana expands total joint, spinal fusion bundles to 15 practices; 5 interesting ASC company partnerships to know; Aetna to change ASC payment process — 3 details; Trump administration targets consolidation, cost disparity across sites — 5 takeaways; How the anterior hip replacement approach fuels outpatient surgery; Orthopedics in ASCs: The key trends to drive success in 2019 & beyond; San Antonio’s biggest orthopedic group gains financing for 8-OR ASC project; Zimmer Biomet pays $4.5M to former orthopedic surgeon whistleblower: 5 details; CMS boosts RVUs for 41 spine procedure codes; Orthopedic surgeon pleads guilty to stealing colleague’s DEA number for fraudulent prescriptions: 4 things to know; Stryker’s strategy for Mako, K2M, sports medicine going forward; SurgCenter building orthopedic ASC, its 5th Michigan facility — 3 details; Former MLB pitcher to use $5.1M settlement over spine surgery complications to fight concurrent procedures: 5 things to know; Louisiana Spine & Sports physician sentenced to 37 months in prison for Medicare fraud, to pay $254,962; Medtronic strengthens spine portfolio with Titan Spine acquisition: 3 details; Medtronic leaves knee, hip market with Responsive Orthopedics divestiture: 5 details; Ortho Rhode Island breaks ground on medical office building with surgery center — 3 insights; The next 5 years in spine: 5 surgeons on technology to watch; Omni Orthopedics breaking ground on new surgery center — 5 insights; Twin Cities Orthopedics adds Dr. Robert LaPrade — 4 insights; Pain management investment firm acquires Texas ASC — 3 things to know; Optum names Daniel Schumacher president, COO in companywide transition; Florida passes overnight stays for ASCs, mandates child safety rules — 4 details; Johnson & Johnson wins titanium rod product liability suit — 4 insights; OrthoCarolina opens new spine, orthopedics center in North Carolina; Colorado jury awards $2.8M to paralyzed man after hospital failed to recognize spinal injury; Medtronic cuts senior position amid restructuring; To screen or not to screen? 45 is the question; PE firm invests in 3 Pennsylvania GI practices, forms US Digestive Health; 3 key ways gastroenterologists can avoid burnout; The ASC management strategy that will likely lead to failure — 3 expert insights; Mayo Clinic opens new spaces in gastroenterology center — 3 insights; These specialty physicians have the highest net worth; 4 things to know about ophthalmologist workload; HCA Healthcare affiliate acquires supply chain management company — 4 insights; Bill to repeal physicianowned hospital ban introduced in U.S. House; Illinois ASC owner sues generic drug companies: 3 details; Cardiologists warned UNC Children’s of heart program issues; UNC Health Care CEO’s memo to staff after NYT exposé; 5 biggest GI trends in 2019 — Private equity, salaries, cancer rates & more; Covenant Surgical continues acquisition spree with Arizona GI practice; Ohio hospital expands orthopedic and sports medicine services; Highest-paid CEOs in 2018: Who made the list from healthcare; Beaumont’s CIN to terminate agreement with 2,500-member physician group; Massachusetts hospital to close in 2020; Supreme Court sides with hospitals in multibillion-dollar payment dispute; Why MBA programs are shutting down; CMS terminates Kentucky hospital’s Medicare contract; Physician compensation grew most for these 5 specialties; Tennessee hospital to lose Medicare contract; From cleaners to the top exec, the average salary for 30 hospital jobs; California hospital CEO gets no-confidence vote from medical staff; What the average employee made at 30 healthcare organizations; Massachusetts hospitals stockpile $1.6B in offshore accounts, nurses say; Ex-Mount Carmel physician charged with murder of 25 patients. Click here to download a PDF version of this issue.
June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
TriStar building $17.3M surgery center on HCA property after lengthy delay — 6 details; Louisiana neurologist allegedly defrauded government of nearly $1.7M; Colonoscopy tops list of top ASC procedure charges — 14 statistics; The key financial concepts and payer trends for ASCs today; World's 10 biggest healthcare companies by revenue; DOJ charges 24 in $1.2B+ medical device kickback scheme — 5 insights; Physician Partners of America brings on 3 more former Laser Spine Institute surgeons; 10 things to know about spine surgery in ASCs for 2019; Michigan-based ASC company aims to develop 15 centers through 2020: 5 things to know; Employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians for 1st time in U.S.; The coming boom — private equity’s impending impact in orthopedics; 4 key steps to ensure long-term success at your ASC; Laser Spine Institute under fire over insurance handling — 5 key details; Utah ASC director on how cash-pay pricing can grow profit margins — 4 takeaways; Women's Choice Award lists best ASCs per state; Healthcare private equity deals up 22% in 2017 — Envision buyout, regional activity & more; TriStar building $17.3M surgery center on HCA property after lengthy delay — 6 details; 4 orthopedist employment, salary statistics; Surgery center employee allegedly bypassed system to prescribe 5K+ pills — 5 details; These are the best states to work as a nurse; Anesthesiologists are top earners among physician specialties; What percentage of ASCs are physician-owned?; Top 10 states for physicians in 2019; The PE time bomb — Provident's Abe M'Bodj on where investment in GI is headed in 2019; Where a Kansas ASC plans to invest for future growth: Q&A with Director Sonja Clapp; Simplify ASC’s Marta Shultz on the key ways ASCs can improve quality; ASC staffing, budgeting and growth: Big trends from Sylvia Johns; Big trends in outpatient orthopedics from Dr. Vishal Mehta; Dr. John Prunskis: Key trends to watch in the ASC industry; Improving hand washing, decreasing surgical site infections & more: 3 ASC quality insights from Northwestern Medicine nursing manager Lynn Nolan; 5 thoughts for a joint-venture ASC + key concepts for building a strong operational structure; 10 ASC closures in the past year, and the reason why; Michigan-based ASC company aims to develop 15 centers through 2020: 5 things to know; PE-backed firm acquires eye center with 3 clinics, 2 ASCs: 5 things to know; 27 PE firms investing in skin practices & ASCs — Goldman Sachs, Waud Capital & more; Compass Surgical Partners' joint-venture ASC serves 3,000+ patients in 1st year; Mount Sinai, Merritt Healthcare seeking CON for $10.2M GI-focused ASC — 5 insights; The key financial concepts and payer trends for ASCs today; Casetabs & Surgical Notes to integrate transcription, document management software; Allstate, State Farm sue pain practices over alleged billing schemes — 6 insights; 4 top reasons ASC claims are denied + the code that makes up 7% of denials; The top 5 procedures performed at ASCs; 5 states with the highest medical malpractice payouts; Forest Park Medical Center kickback trial ends in convictions for 4 physicians; Orthopedic surgeon gets 5 months in federal prison for illegal hydrocodone pill distribution: 4 notes; Louisiana neurologist allegedly defrauded government of nearly $1.7M; Williamson Medical Center, Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee surgeons partner to open facility — 3 details; Physician Partners of America brings on 3 more former Laser Spine Institute surgeons; 10 things to know about spine surgery in ASCs for 2019; California neurosurgeon charged with billing fraud: 4 points; Spine surgeon, New Jersey ASC operator has license temporarily suspended after inappropriate texts with patients: 5 details; DOJ charges 24 in $1.2B+ medical device kickback scheme — 5 insights; Missouri orthopedic practice ordered to provide outcomes data on knee procedure after claiming 92% success rate: 5 key notes; 4 gastroenterologists share their thoughts on Exact Sciences' Cologuard; 6 insights into endoscope reprocessing & how to ensure guideline adherence; 5 insights into GI physician salary; Colonoscopy tops list of top ASC procedure charges — 14 statistics; Raising CRC awareness through humor & levity: 3 Qs with Dr. Charles Friel; 3 ASCs, endoscopy centers with the highest colonoscopy volume in 2018; Early-onset CRC rates continue to rise; 5 things to know about physician salaries; Employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians for 1st time in U.S.; 10 physician assistant salary statistics; Google's most-searched diseases, by state; Washington health system files for bankruptcy, cites issues with revenue cycle vendor; CHS sees net loss quadruple, revenue sink in Q1; Michael Kasper, CEO of DuPage Medical Group, dies at 46; DOJ files formal request to strike down entire ACA: 5 things to know; Walmart has no shelf space for hospitals’ shoddy healthcare; Trump pushes legislation to end 'outrageous medical bills'; Judge steps down from UnitedHealth case over 'immoral' denial of cancer treatment; 15 most common passwords; Baylor St. Luke's ordered to submit correction plan or risk losing Medicare funding. Click here to download a PDF version of the Issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Class action suits look for answers after Laser Spine Institute’s abrupt closure — 7 insights; What a Michigan ASC does to stay competitive & recruit physicians — 3 Qs with Executive Director Tina Piotrowski; Outpatient joint replacements at ASCs cost 40% less than hospital-based surgery: 3 study details; How much revenue do GIs generate for hospitals? 3 report details; In-N-Out Burger’s customer-focused philosophy: 5 things ASCs can learn; Vanderbilt hit with $25.5M suit over wrong-site surgery; Physicians sue Tenet, Detroit Medical Center, allege cost-cutting led to patients deaths; Total joint replacement in ASCs for 2019; 10 states with the most, least Medicare-certified ASCs; The strategy for 4 ASCs to recruit and retain great staff; HCA Healthcare recruits 1,000+ displaced Laser Spine Institute employees; 10 states with the most Medicarecertified ASCs | 2019; 10 states with the least Medicarecertified ASCs | 2019; Increasing Medicare payments, number of ASC openings, closings & more: 48 takeaways from MedPAC report; Capital Ortho opens surgery center on new campus — 4 insights; UnitedHealth, Tenet & HCA rank among top 50 largest medical group organizations; USPI may exceed $175M acquisitions for the right deal + how PE firms become an opportunity, not competition; Surgery Partners names new EVP, COO: 5 key notes; New Jersey men plead guilty to defrauding investors in fake ASC – 5 details; Belleville Surgical Center selling 2 centers after hospital opens — 4 insights; Humana adds 100+ SurgCenter Development facilities to national network — 3 things to know; 4 ways Apple could transform medical billing; AHA fights site-neutral payments for HOPDs with new study; The strategy for 4 ASCs to recruit and retain a great staff; Leapfrog launches inaugural ASC quality & safety survey: 5 details; Brookside ENT and Hearing Center closes after hack deletes all files — 7 insights; Gastro Health makes 1st out-of-state acquisition in Alabama — 5 insights; Cardiac procedures are the ‘total joints of tomorrow’ for ASCs — 3 Qs with Outpatient HealthCare Strategies’ Jessica Nantz; How ASCs can compete with hospitals for top talent — 4 expert insights; How total joints propelled an Ohio-based ASC’s strategy for growth + a bigger location; Private equity, the state of ophthalmology ASCs & more — Dr. Ben Cohen shares his thoughts; How Great Lakes Surgical Center ensures patient responsibility collection on the day of surgery; Emerging spine technologies include smart technologies, robotics & nano-engineering: Q&A with Dr. Frank Shen; 6 trends and observations in ASC M&A; Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists opening orthopedic surgery center; Compass Surgical Partners & physicians establish ASC — 5 insights; Pennsylvania proposes ASC tax again in 2019 — 3 details; South Carolina pain group under investigation for billing fraud related to opioids, urine testing — 5 notes; Skyline Urology to pay $1.85M over improper billing allegations — 5 details; Large payers like UnitedHealthcare could buy PE investments in 2nd wave — 4 insights; How 3 ASC administrators deal with the rise in high deductible plans; Bundled payments in action — ASC bundled payment network saves insurance collective $7M+; NY insurer files suit over $28M in ‘fraudulent and abusive’ claims from ASC, physicians & pain companies: 7 things to know; Rothman Orthopaedics aims to expand nationally with NueHealth, MUVE joint venture: 5 things to know; SurgCenter Development forms 200th ASC partnership — Company in 'full-growth mode'; Physician group adds $2.8M ASC to 7-practice portfolio — 1 year ago 'we weren't an entity'; How well is Walmart’s spine center of excellence program working? 5 takeaways; Neurosurgeon-generated revenue for hospitals jumps 40.5% in 3 years to $3.4M; 10 things to know about total joint replacement in ASCs for 2019; 14 ASCs adding total joint replacements in the past year; Innovation in spine will focus on outpatient: Q&A with Dr. Alexander Taghva; Payer to expand bundled payments to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries; Bundled payments can reduce per-patient episode of care costs for total joint patients by $5K+, study finds: 3 details; Outpatient joint replacements at ASCs cost 40% less than hospital-based surgery: 3 study details; Smith & Nephew makes 2 acquisitions in 2 days: 6 key points; Orthopedic center evacuated after angry former patient shoots ‘several rounds’ outside California hospital: 5 key notes; Orthopedic surgeon pays $84,666 to settle kickback allegations over pain cream medical directorship arrangement; Humana launches bundled payment for spinal fusions at 4 practices, expands joint replacement program — 6 insights; Munson Health settles $7M lawsuit with neurosurgeon: 6 things to know; BPCI Advanced loses 252 providers, 35% of lower extremity major joint replacement participants; The spine surgery devices, techniques that won’t stand the test of time; Penn Medicine opens $10M spine center with Dr. William Welch as medical director – 4 things to know; Dr. Todd Albert to complete surgeon-in-chief term in June, maintain spine practice at Hospital for Special Surgery; Dr. Daniel Birk’s bold prediction: Spinal fusion will become mostly obsolete in 10 years; 11 big acquisitions for spine, orthopedic device companies in 2019 so far; Spinal fusion hospital costs for Medicare patients exceed $40K: 5 things to know; DePuy claims Orthofix compelled sales reps to break contracts — 5 lawsuit details; 310 ASCs with total joint replacements | 2019310 ASCs with total joint replacements | 2019; How much revenue do GIs generate for hospitals? 3 report details; 3 study insights into the best bowel preparation solutions; Colonoscopy the gold standard in US, despite alternatives — 7 insights; AI-assisted colonoscopy improves polyp, adenoma detection — 5 study insights; Gastro Health acquiring Gastroenterology Specialists, continuing Florida expansion efforts — 4 insights; PE groups eye Peak Gastroenterology Associates — 4 insights; 4 trends to know about private equity in gastroenterology — Multiples, market potential & more; 60 patients sue Guardian Pharmacy & 2 Dallas surgery centers that used its drug: 5 insights; Preoperative frailty assessments in ASCs — 5 insights from anesthesiologist Dr. Lee Fleisher; In-N-Out Burger’s customer-focused philosophy: 5 things ASCs can learn; Columbia Surgical Specialists of Spokane pays nearly $15K to resolve ransomware attack affecting 400,000 patients: 4 details; Colorado anesthesiologist’s license suspended after allegedly obtaining opioids illegally — 4 insights; CEO of U of Maryland Medical System to take leave of absence amid scandal; The 6 specialties osteopathic physicians opted for on match day; Vanderbilt hit with $25.5M suit over wrong-site surgery; Physicians sue Tenet, Detroit Medical Center, allege cost-cutting led to patient deaths; Patient sues Northwestern Medicine after medical records posted on social media; Missouri Supreme Court finds ASC wasn’t negligent in credentialing surgeon that didn’t disclose lawsuits – 4 key notes; CHS made false meaningful use claims, whistleblowers say; New York hospital settles with Cerner over billing problems: 5 things to know; Texas hospitals record most cyberattacks in US; CEO of Connecticut hospital defends $1M salary: ‘People don’t understand what it actually takes to get into this role’. 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March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Where 5 major ASC companies stand in 2019: Strategy, market share & more; 10 states with the most Medicare-certified ASCs; The payer landscape for ASCs; Laser Spine Institute shuts its doors - 5 things to know; The Urology Group sells headquarters, surgery center property for; Surgery center reopens after closing in August: 3 details; Trends in surgery center mergers and acquisitions for 2019; Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates breaks ground on surgery center; HCA Healthcare adds 3 ASCs, outpatient cases up 3.2% in 2018;Ascension restructures leadership as 3 execs depart; What CMS’ site-neutral policies mean for surgery center M&A; Cardiac procedures are the ‘total joints of tomorrow’ for ASCs; Texas orthopedic practice theft affects 76,000 patient records; 10 states with the least Medicare-certified ASCs; 12 statistics to know on ASC management fees; FBI searches 2 eye centers: 4 key notes; Competition in outpatient surgery + how to prepare for the Amazon of ASCs: 4 Qs with Dr. Manoj Mehta; 3 tips to build a positive team culture at ASCs; How ASCs can take on mergers, value-based care & more: 3 Qs with Administrator Debbie Hall; Employee charged with stealing thousands from Lincoln Southwest Surgical Center: 4 details; DePuy Synthes reports 1.9% drop in sales for 2018: 5 things to know; Mercy Clinic acquires Oklahoma City-based orthopedic practice, ASC — Outlook for 2019 ASC M&A; Flower Orthopedics system reduces phalangeal joint fusion intraoperative time by 33% — 3 notes; Surgery center reopens after closing in August: 3 details; Trends in surgery center mergers and acquisitions for 2019; Hospital acquisition of physician practices up 128% in 5.5 years: 4 details; Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists opening orthopedic surgery center in April — 5 insights; Illinois group sells 2 ASCs; Northwell Health adds total joints at Schwartz Ambulatory Center, plans to expand other ASCs’ services; Physician group adds $2.8M ASC to 7-practice portfolio — 1 year ago ‘we weren’t an entity’; $8.4M joint venture ASC gets New York state approval — 4 insights; What CMS’ siteneutral policies mean for surgery center M&A — 3 insights; Surgery center awarded $27K+ in workers’ comp lawsuit – 6 details; Apple & Aetna build app rewarding member behavior – 7 things to know; After losing Medicaid benefits, Ohio hospital faces 2 options, including ASC conversion; 10 ways ASCs can reduce denials, improve the appeals process; How 3 ASC administrators deal with the rise in high deductible plans; ORHub enters Arkansas market with ASC agreement – 3 notes; How Southern California Orthopedic Institute shifted total joints to ASCs using bundled payments — 5 insights; Nobilis Health enters in-network contract at Plano Surgical Hospital – 3 details; NY insurer files suit over $28M in ‘fraudulent and abusive’ claims from ASC, physicians & pain companies: 7 things to know; Why Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky is bullish on orthopedic performance improvement: 5 things to know; ‘Doing the right thing:’ Ohio surgeons to open orthopedic surgery center; Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates breaks ground on surgery center — 6 insights; How Apple, Amazon & price transparency will affect spine: 3 Qs with Dr. Alok Sharan; Stryker recalls spine device: 5 things to know; Rothman Orthopaedics aims to expand nationally with NueHealth, MUVE joint venture: 5 things to know; Orthopedic surgeon pays $84,666 to settle kickback allegations over pain cream medical directorship arrangement: 4 things to know; Black Hills Orthopedic & Spine Center opens clinic, adds new surgeon — 3 insights; Outpatient total joint 90-day bundled payment program hits 300+ cases: 4 Qs with Dr. Steven Lucey; Laser Spine Institute shuts its doors, patients from 4 ASCs diverted: 5 things to know; The PE arms race — From the deal heard round the world to what’s next in GI; FDA approves DNA testing company 23andMe’s hereditary CRC test — 4 insights; Here’s what CMS pays for 10 gastroenterology procedures; Blood-based CRC test detects adenomas with 90% accuracy — 4 insights; Burnout, depression high in gastroenterology — 8 statistics; Gastro Health acquiring Gastroenterology Specialists, continuing Florida expansion efforts — 4 insights; AGA: 3 things to know about AI in gastroenterology; 5 experts weigh in on new GI-focused practice management companies & their implications; The Leapfrog Group lifts ASC survey participation cap after ‘overwhelming response’; 29 statistics on NP, PA salary; 60 patients sue Guardian Pharmacy & 2 Dallas surgery centers that used its drug: 5 insights; The Joint Commission addresses OR temperature standard — 4 details; Physician burnout peaked in 2014: Mayo, AMA & Stanford researchers offer solution; The evolution of total joint replacements from the hospital to the surgery center; Top execs of America’s 5 largest commercial health plans; Walmart drops price of virtual visits from $40 to $4; Ohio hospital faces closure after losing Medicare certification; Tenet Healthcare plans to outsource 1,000+ jobs — 6 insights; Texas system laying off 720 employees; Ascension restructures leadership as 3 execs depart; 38 hospitals sue HHS over site-neutral payment policy; Amazon now sells hospital rooms: 5 note; Staff unanimously votes ‘no confidence’ in Florida hospital CEO; HCA announces $1B public offering that could be used for acquisitions — 4 insights. 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January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASCs to receive 2.1% increase in 2019 Medicare reimbursement: 6 things to know; Salary gap between ASC and hospital leaders narrows — Here's how much; Phishing scam bites Georgia Spine and Orthopaedics of Atlanta — 6 details; The new healthcare concepts that can drive ASC growth; Chicago ASC physician convicted in $3.5M billing fraud scheme: 5 things to know; 200+ total joint replacement ASC in New Jersey opens new location: 4 things to know; Moody's: Envision could sell AmSurg for $3B-$3.5B — Will they?; CMS posts payments for ASCs vs. HOPDs — Medicare pays ASCs $359 less for colonoscopy, $1,092 less for knee arthroscopy; Texas Digestive Disease Consultants finds PE partner, forms GI practice management company; Phishing scam bites Georgia Spine and Orthopaedics of Atlanta — 6 details; Salary gap between ASC and hospital leaders narrows — Here's how much; The new healthcare concepts that can drive ASC growth; How a North Carolina-based ASC aims to create value for the healthcare system; Why flexibility is a key quality for ASCs today; 3 key elements of a strong ASC + 3 big goals for 2019; 3 core concepts for running a successful ASC from Joe Ollayos; 3 key concepts to operate successful ASC teams; Moody's: Envision could sell AmSurg for $3B-$3.5B — Will they?; Naples Day Surgery shutting down: 5 details; Physician-owned hospital in El Paso to close, citing financial & operational challenges; 200+ total joint replacement ASC in New Jersey opens new location: 4 things to know; New York ASC partners with payer to deliver region's 1st outpatient hip replacements; Ohio-based ASC hosts 100th total joint replacement: 4 key notes; Laser Spine Institute in Oklahoma City to shut its doors; Kansas ASC installs robot for knee replacements: 5 key points; New GERD treatment option 'significantly more effective' than standard of care — 5 insights; Texas Digestive Disease Consultants finds PE partner, forms GI practice management company; GI societies slam CMS decision to side with Anthem, devalue GI codes — 5 insights; These management companies have the most ASCs: 5 points; Surgeon performs 100+ outpatient total knee replacements using robotic system; ASCs to receive 2.1% increase in 2019 Medicare reimbursement: 6 things to know; Eye Centers of Florida pays $525K to settle Medicare billing fraud allegations: 5 things to know; Chicago ASC physician convicted in $3.5M billing fraud scheme: 5 things to know; CMS to pay separately for Exparel, non-opioid pain management at ASCs in 2019; Temple Surgery Center shutters after Little River Healthcare files for bankruptcy; DaVita Medical will pay $270M to resolve False Claims Act violation allegations: 5 things to know; Physician pay, productivity slows for first time in a decade: 5 report statistics; Walmart looks to add health clinics in its parking lots; 10 healthcare companies likely to be acquired in next year; Pain physician convicted of falsifying patient medical records — 6 insights; Kaiser Permanente Colorado will lay off 200 employees; CMS posts payments for ASCs vs. HOPDs — Medicare pays ASCs $359 less for colonoscopy, $1,092 less for knee arthroscopy; 5 predictions for ophthalmology PE in 2019 — AmSurg, USPI & more. Click here to download a PDF version of this issue.
2018
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The 4 ways ASCs can fail — How to avoid these critical mistakes; KKR's $9.9B acquisition of Envision is the biggest healthcare deal in Q2 — Top 5 deals to know; 5 new joint venture ASCs — August/September 2018; North Carolina surgical center building sells for $1.93M — 5 details; The Leapfrog Group expands ratings to include ASCs, will survey 5K+; Mark Zuckerberg to sell $13B in Facebook stock to help cure major diseases; 200+ total joint replacement ASC in New Jersey opens new location: 4 things to know; 112 ASC benchmarks to know | 2018; Vascular Institute signs 5-year lease to share ASC with Sacramento Heart — 5 insights; CMS final rule includes definition change to add 131 more device-intensive procedures: 5 things to know; Vascular Institute signs 5-year lease to share ASC with Sacramento Heart — 5 insights; The 4 ways ASCs can fail — How to avoid these critical mistakes; Anesthesiologist faces up to 10 years in prison for alleged healthcare fraud, denies accusations — 5 takeaways; Colorado hospital ends relationship with Vail Summit Orthopaedics: 5 highlights; Former orthopedic clinic employee gets 10 years probation after stealing $10K: 4 key points; North Carolina surgical center building sells for $1.93M — 5 details; KKR’s $9.9B acquisition of Envision (AmSurg) is the biggest healthcare deal in Q2 — Top 5 deals to know; 5 new joint venture ASCs; How Surgery Partners plans to grow in the next year: 8 key points on strategy; Stryker purchased Invuity for $190M: 5 things to know; Why one orthopedic surgeon started performing outpatient TJRs in the ASC setting; 200+ total joint replacement ASC in New Jersey opens new location: 4 things to know;
How Carilion Clinic’s Dr. T.K. Miller plans to grow his practice & best advice for new surgeons; Ohio surgery center performs 1K total joint replacements; Why private equity deals will become more common for orthopedic practices — Key thoughts from Provident’s Robert Aprill; Rothman Orthopaedic Institute adds 5 New Yorkbased surgeons to newly opened New Jersey location: 5 things to know; How K2M will fit into Stryker’s business model — will it affect long term financial targets?; Medtronic adds to spine business with $1.64B acquisition of Mazor: 6 things to know; Steadman Clinic, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics propose 80 to 100K-sq-ft. surgery center; The Leapfrog Group expands ratings to include ASCs, will survey 5K+; 10 key business trends for GI physicians and centers in 2018 & beyond; Gastro Health completes South Florida Gastroenterology Associates acquisition — 5 insights; California Insurance Commission claims AbbVie bribed physicians in $1.2B kickback scheme — 6 insights;Takeda closing US headquarters, 1K workers potentially affected — 6 insights; Colorectal cancer 3rd most common cancer, 2nd most deadly — 6 new research insights; 10 strategies to streamline ASC supply chain management; 5 major developments in the US medical device industry; Drugs & medical supplies costs at ASCs across the US — 7 statistics; What the value-based care shift means for ASC supply chains: 2 Qs with Johnson & Johnson expert; 4 ways to automate an ASC supply chain; ASCs to receive 2.1% increase in 2019 Medicare reimbursement: 6 things to know; CMS considers nixing ‘burdensome’ ASC, HOPD requirements — 5 notes; Number of medical students pursuing surgery specialty drops by half — 28 statistics; Sutter Health reports higher operating revenues, income in first half of 2018; Mark Zuckerberg to sell $13B in Facebook stock to help cure major diseases; Amazon-JPMorgan-Berkshire venture hires consulting firm: 3 things to know; Cyberattack forces Indiana hospital to cancel elective surgeries, divert ambulances; Money: 10 best places to live in the US; 112 ASC benchmarks to know | 2018; Former orthopedic clinic employee allegedly wrote 100+ pain med prescriptions for herself: 5 things to know; Click here to download a PDF Version of this Issue.
October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
How 4 ASCs are improving the patient experience; Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know;Surgery Partners welcomes 3 ASCs to network; Compass Surgical Partners, 5 surgeons partner to build orthopedic-focused ASC; Stryker acquires K2M for $1.4B, a 27% premium: 5 things to know; How many ASCs with total joints do large ASC companies have?; Gastro Health acquires largest private practice in Orlando — 4 insights; How orthopedics, spine will grow in ASCs from 4 surgeons; ASCs could start providing 131 more device-intensive procedures for Medicare patients if CMS approves rule: 5 things to know; USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 so far, and more to come; Idaho ASC files lawsuit against AmSurg, cites mismanagement: 7 things to know; ASCs could start providing 131 more device-intensive procedures for Medicare patients if CMS approves rule: 5 things to know; Inventory management & other supply chain challenges: 3 Qs with ASC expert Lacey Dyer; How 4 ASCs are improving the patient experience; Intermountain cuts 396 jobs, adds 107 in reorganization; AHA to CMS: Keep physician-owned hospital ban in Stark Law; United Surgical Partners International, Integris seek to purchase 3 Community Hospital locations; Ophthalmology investments spread across the South: 5 key developments; USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 so far, and more to come; Surgery Partners welcomes 3 ASCs to network; Compass Surgical Partners, 5 surgeons partner to build orthopedic-focused ASC — 5 details; ASCs should brace for these 2 trends, says Regent Surgical Health CEO Chris Bishop; 10 statistics on minority, controlling interests in ASCs; Stryker makes another acquisition for $220M: 5 things to know; Drs. David Evanich, Chris Evanich perform 59 total joints in a week — 5 highlights; Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites & Spectrum Orthopedics performs 1K total joint replacements; Jury awards $8.2M in patent infringement suit against DePuy Synthes: 5 things to know; Orthopedic procedure volume grows in the ASC, outpatient settings: 10 key statistics; UC Davis Health welcomes new orthopedic surgery chair: 5 details; Stryker acquires K2M for $1.4B, a 27% premium: 5 things to know; California medical board claims orthopedic surgeon continued seeing patients with suspended licenselicense;Gastro Health completes South Florida Gastroenterology Associates acquisition — 5 insights; Gastro Health acquires largest private practice in Orlando; 2 more patients accuse gastroenterologist of sexual misconduct — 5 insights; How the proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule can impact GIs — 12 insights; Creating the ultimate patient experience while strengthening your revenue cycle: technology, consumer protections, and best practices; AMA releases 335 code changes for 2019 — Here are the key updates; Physician sentenced to 18 months in prison for $30M Medicare, Medicaid fraud: 6 key facts; Here’s what ASCs need to know about bundled payments — 6 takeaways; 4 billing & coding updates that could affect ASC reimbursement; ESEC Surgery Center correcting CMS violations after losing Medicare payments — 6 insights; Texas Children’s Hospital fires nurse over Facebook post; 5 organizations team up to tackle antibiotic resistance in outpatient space; Ascension fires 75% of DC-based Providence Health System’s board; Colorado hospital ends relationship with Vail Summit Orthopaedics: 5 highlights Click here to download a PDF Version of this issue.
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The best opportunity to improve ASC profitability in 2-3 years; Will outpatient total joint replacement become the norm?; CMS proposes 2% ASC pay increase in 2019: 5 key notes; SurgCenter Development performs 30k outpatient joint replacements — 4 insights; Allstate files $2M suit against ASCs, orthopedic surgeons and others: 4 things to know; 15 statistics on GI starting salary; Orthopedic surgery tops specialties for industry payments at $258M; Top challenges for 6 ASCs today; Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know; Physicians Endoscopy names new president: 4 insights; Top challenges for 6 ASCs today; The best opportunity to improve ASC profitability in 2 to 3 years from 5 ASC administrators; Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know; Email hack exposes 2K records at Orthopaedic Institute Surgery Center — 5 facts; Surgery center nurse who allegedly stole narcotics indicted — 3 insights; Former ASC manager faces 30 years in prison for stealing $514k: 5 things to know; The necessary change for an ASC’s sustainability: key thoughts from South Portland Surgical Center’s Lianna McDowell; Why an Iowa-based ASC’s strategic plan is sticking to the basics; The new healthcare concepts that can drive ASC growth; The strategic advantage of ASCs: 2 key thoughts from Green Mountain Surgery Center’s John Paoni; How a North Carolina-based ASC aims to create value for the healthcare system; Key trends and concepts for a thriving ASC: 3 questions with Polaris Spine COO Joy Taylor; 6 statistics on working capital as a % of net revenue for ASCs; 8 hospitals, health systems opening or planning ASCs; Finding the ideal balance: 5 key ASC staffing tips; KKR’s $9.9B acquisition of Envision is the biggest healthcare deal in Q2 — Top 5 deals to knows; UnitedHealth, Optum report strong Q2 financials: 12 takeaways; KKR seeking new investors through corporation move — 5 insights; HCA reports freestanding ASC surgery volume up 1.5% in Q2: 6 things to know; Is a major ASC acquisition in HCA’s future? Here’s what CEO R. Milton Johnson has to say; 15 statistics on GI starting salary; 21 women sue Florida gastroenterologist for alleged sexual assault, battery; Former Gastro Health CEO Alejandro Fernandez takes top post at new company: 5 insights; USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 & more to come; AmSurg reports 3% Q2 revenue increase to $328M, KKR acquisition expected to close in Q4: 5 key notes; Surgery Partners has another strong quarter, revenues increased 54.2% — 8 insights; 10 things to know about Stryker’s SPY-PHI’s device; Allstate files $2M suit against ASCs, orthopedic surgeons and others: 4 things to know; Amazon enters the spine market, now sells screw removal kit online: 5 things to know; Will outpatient total joint replacement become the norm? Here’s how Dr. J. David Evanich has made it work; SurgCenter Development surgeons perform 30K outpatient joint replacements — 4 insights; 3 orthopedic surgeons named in $950M kickback scheme, 2 plead guilty; Orthopedic surgery tops specialties for industry payments at $258M; Anesthesiologists & surgeons top list of 25 highest-paying jobs — Lawyers left in the dust; Comprehensive Pain Specialists closing majority of practices following CEO fraud indictment — 5 insights; Is there an impending shortage of anesthesiologists? — 7 takeaways; Anesthesiologist charged with fraud, illegally distributing 6M doses of drugs — 5 details; ASC seeks $58K in damages from Blue Cross Blue Shield — 8 insights; CMS proposes 2% ASC pay increase in 2019: 5 key notes; Pain physician faces insurance fraud, perjury after referring workers comp cases to ASC, lab he owned: 3 key notes; Is CMS committed to site-neutral payments? What the proposed 2019 OPPS may indicate for ASCs; Medical coders are in high demand at ASCs & other facilities: Growth 2x US average; Michigan hospital sues 3 patient relatives over Facebook post: 8 things to know; Dr. Atul Gawande tapped to lead Amazon, Berkshire, JPMorgan venture; Colorado health system sues patient over $229K surgery bill, jury awards $766; ASCs could start providing 131 more device-intensive procedures for Medicare patients if CMS approves rule: 5 things to know; The remote healthcare job with a 6-figure salary; Click here to download a PDF Version of this issue.
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
KKR acquiring Envision Healthcare for $9.9B — 7 insights; 2 orthopedic groups with ASCs partner with insurers on bundled payments in the same week: 5 things to know; ASC chains own 28% of the market: 5 key trends to know ASC Turnarounds; Eye Care Surgery Center alerts 2,553 patients about stolen laptop — 6 insights; Florida ASC administrator accused of stealing equipment to sell on eBay:5 things to know; 2 men who scammed Tennessee ASC get prison time, ordered to pay $1.38M: 5 things to know; Skyway Surgery Center launched its 1st bundled payment agreement in early 2018 — Why it won’t be their last; A Colorado-based ASC hired a financial counselor to improve the patient experience — Did it work?; The evolving role of an ASC administrator; How the payer & patient expereince landscape is changing for ASCs; How a Virginia-based ASC combats consolidation and changing referral patterns; How an Oregon-based ASC combats decreasing case volume; Physicians Endoscopy names new president: 4 insights; 6 statistics on ASC acquisition activity, competition; CMS freezes $10.4B in risk adjustment payments ; Target these 10 HR inefficiencies to reap 6-figure savings; Surgery Center of Quincy locked down after bomb threat — 4 insights; Medline secures $75M distribution agreement including 22 ambulatory centers — 4 details; OptumCare aims to serve 75 markets across the US: 5 key points on the future Surgery Partners increased revenues 45.8% in Q1 — 8 insights; KKR acquiring Envision Healthcare for $9.9B — 6 insights; AmSurg enters into 1st strategic partnership with eye care practice — 6 insights; PE group partners with ophthalmology practices to form Vision Integrated Partners — 4 insights; ‘This is simply wrong’ — HHS’ Alex Azar criticizes high prices in hospitals compared to physician offices; The brilliance of Chris Holden and AmSurg — 6 quick thoughts; ASC chains own 28% of the market: 5 key trends to know; 16 ASCs embracing price transparency; 3 ASCs, Cigna settle alleged ERISA violation suit; Spine surgeon collectes $847k from Medicare after surrendering license — And he’s not alone: 5 things to know; 5 ASCs report 50% patient volume boost 1 year after posting prices online: 7 findings; Staying in Step with Contractual and Coding Changes; Gastro Health to acquire South Florida Gastroenterology Associates — Adds 15 providers, 7 offices; FDA permits marketing of Hemospray to treat GI bleeding: 5 things to know; The three legged stool of EHRs — Dr. Michael Weinstein recounts why Capital Digestive Care selected gMed’s gGastro; 3 experts share their thoughts on the right EHR for gastroenterologists; 2 orthopedic groups with ASCs partner with insurers on bundled payments in the same week: 5 things to know; Total joints in ASCs — key challenges, opportunities from Dr. Michael Chmell; Dr. James Andrews ranks as No. 7 richest physician in the world; 10 key trends in the orthopedic & spine device industries; Stryker makes new acquisition to help hospitals, health systems save costs: 3 details; Porter Adventist spine surgeon halts surgery mid-procedure due to contaminated tools: 5 insights; 4 things to know for ASCs seeking deemed status through The Joint Commission; Jury awards $4.5M over misplaced pedicle screw during spine surgery: 5 things to know; Vanderbilt University Medical Center points to Epic rollout for 60% drop in operating income; Nurse accused of stealing more than $550k from New York hospital; Click here to download a PDF version of this issue.
May, June 2018 Issue of Becker's ASC
Private equity in the ASC market—key transactions & 2018 outlook; Data breach at NY ASC possibly exposes 135k patient records; Pain physician charged in fraud scheme, ordered to pay $8.7M; Envision suing UnitedHealthcare over a bevy of payment issues — 7 insights; New Jersey pain specialist allegedly orchestrated $4.4M kickback scheme — 4 insights; SSI launches analytical product for ASCs — 4 insights; ASCA rebukes ‘sensationalized’ story misrepresenting ASC safety; New York health system eliminating outpatient surgery due to freestanding surgery center proliferation — 5 insight; Jury finds CRNA, North Star Anesthesia liable in man’s death, awards family $1M; Riverside Regional Surgery Center owner, 3 others charged in $8M healthcare fraud scheme: 5 things to know; 10 statistics on US venture capital funding in healthcare; HHS Secretary Alex Azar commits to support changes to physician-owned hospital ban; Regent Surgical Health, St. Francis Hospital open surgery center for complex cases — 6 highlights; New York health system eliminating outpatient surgery due to freestanding surgery center proliferation — 5 insight; 10 things to know about AmSurg; Health systems acquire 5k independent practices during 2015-16; 10 things to know about United Surgical Partners International; 10 things to know about Surgery Partners; 10 things to know about Regent Surgical Health; Joint venture Stuart Surgery Center to open in Florida — 5 insights; 10 things to know about Surgical Care Affiliates;Orthopedic ASC, Georgia providers to pay $3.2M for False Claims Act allegations;Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center plans new hospital facility; Dr. Mark Giovanini performs his 1st spine surgery with coflex in an ASC; CEO compensation for 8 spine, orthopedic device companies; ‘An unprecedented amount of confusion’ — Orthopedic society criticizes CMS for TKA final rule; 6 trends for total joint replacements in the future — revision total knees to jump 400% by 2060; The Joint Commission finalizes total hip and knee replacement performance measures — 5 insights; Dr. Brett Menmuir joins Laser Spine Institute — 5 quick facts; Staying independent — Dr. Louis Wilson’s 2 key thoughts on surviving and thriving in 2018; Medical Board of California accuses gastroenterologist of gross negligence — 10 insights; Data breach at New York ASC possibly exposes 135k patient records — 4 insights; Device improves Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal dysplasia detectionA study, published in United European Gastroenterology Journal, found CDx Diagnostics Wats; After 9 years, Gastro Health replaces CEO — 5 things to know about new leader Joseph Garcia;
CT colonography colorectal cancer screening more cost effective than colonoscopy. Click here to download a PDF version of this issue.
March, April 2018 Issue of Becker's ASC
ASCs Earned $26B in 2016 - 60% of Eligible Procedures to be Performed in ASCs by 2020; 10 Statistics on ASC Shareholder Equity; Chinese Company Makes $300M Equity Investment in miVIP ASC Chain: 4 Things to Know ; Getting the Waste out of Healthcare — Dr. Richard Kube on Price Transparency; MUSC to Open Outpatient Surgical Facility in Mall: 5 Key Points; The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics’ Revenue Increases 75% in Less Than 5 Years: 5 Takeaways; Oregon Vascular Specialists Building new Surgery Center — 6 Things to Know; Surgery Partners Brings on Another Anthem Exec as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Interim CFO: 5 Things to Know; Medical Facilities Corp., NueHealth Form Joint Venture, Acquire 7 ASCs From Meridian; Surgical Partners — 6 Things to Know; SCA Partners with Providence Health & Services, Invests in Oregon-Based ASC: 5 Key Points; USPI Revenue Jumps 6.9% in Q4: 12 Things to Know; Preston Surgery Center Posts Cash Pricing for all Procedures — 3 Insights; Former North American Spine Society President William Watters, MD, of Houston Medical, discusses the biggest spine technology, clinical and business trends for 2018.; Illinois Bone & Joint Institute Names Dr. William Robb CMO, Orthopedic Director: 5 Things to Know; ASCs are the Best Opportunity for Spine Surgeons + Key Thoughts on Challenges, Spine Tech From Dr. Todd Lansford; Dr. Mark Adams Performs Michigan’s 1st Coflex Procedure in ASC: 4 Things to Know; Larry Nassar, Former USA Gymnastics Physician, gets 40-175 Years in Prison — 6 Things to Know; 4 Spine Surgeons on Technology Innovation; 3 Orthopedic Surgeons to Perform Outpatient Anterior Hip Replacement in Washington ASC: 5 Thing to Know; 7 Statistics on Medical Coder Salary, Growth Potential; ASC Takes on UPMC for Exclusion From Health Plan Network: 5 Things to Know; Physician Driven Bundles — How 3 Physicians Took Control of the Bundle; We hate H3N2’: 3 Reasons This Year’s Flu Season Could get Worse; Intermountain, SSM, Ascension and Trinity Health to Launch Generic Drug Company; ASC Takes on UPMC for Exclusion From Health Plan Network: 5 Things to Know; Physician Driven Bundles — How 3 Physicians Took Control of the Bundle; We hate H3N2’: 3 Reasons This Year’s Flu Season Could get Worse; Intermountain, SSM, Ascension and Trinity Health to Launch Generic Drug Company Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
January, February 2018 Issue of Becker's ASC
Investors Turn to ASCs, Urgent Care Centers as Hospital Demand Declines; 39% of ASCs are 15+ Years Old, 92% Have Physician Ownership: 14 Statistics on ASCs; Seaside Surgery Center Posts Package Pricing for Orthopedic Surgeries: 5 Key Points; Columbus Surgery Center and Eye Physicians Falls Victim to Ransomware Attack: 5 Things to Know;Surgery Partners Hires Former Anthem Exec as CEO: 5 Things to Know;Anesthesiologist Charged with Murder After Allegedly Giving Lethal Dose of Demerol to California;56 Statistics on ASC Operating Expenses per Case;17 ASC Procedure Volume and Length Benchmarks;St. Joseph Outpatient Surgery Center Administrator Iris Ross Shot, Killed on Dec. 25;State-by-state breakdown of 2017’s 71 new or announced ASCs, outpatient centers;Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists to Build New $13.5M ASC for Expanded Volume, Complex Procedures: 6 Key Notes;NH Hospital to Close Joint Venture ASC; Outpatient Cases Moving Back to the Hospital: 5 Key Notes;USPI, Hospital for Special Surgery Partner to Open Florida ASC: 5 Things to Know; Physician-Owned Hospital in Dallas Pays $7.5M to Settle Kickback Allegations: 5 Things to Know;Iowa ASC Sues Physician Group, Physicians Over Building $37M Nebraska ASC, Allege Noncompete Violations: 6 Things to Know;Maximize Your 2018 Reimbursements: Know Your Health Plans, Know Your Market, and Stay on Top of Trends;Orthopaedic and Spine Center of the Rockies Seeking $1M+ in Payments from VA, 3rd Party Payer;Physician-Owned Medical Company Guilty of Submitting Nearly $1M in False Claims — 6 Insights ;82% of Early-Onset CRC Cases Misdiagnosed — 10 Study Insights;Are Spine Bundled Payments Finally Here? Dr. Paul Slosar’s 3 Key Trends for Spine Surgery in 2018;Ohio Pediatric Gastroenterologist Guilty of Sexual Offenses — 4 Insights;Check-Cap’s Colonoscopy Prep Alternative Gains CE Mark;14 Statistics on GI Physician Salary, Compensation;Seaside Surgery Center Posts Package Pricing for Orthopedic Surgeries: 5 Key Points;Same-day Discharge vs. Inpatient Surgery for Joint Replacement: 4 Key Findings on Readmissions, Complications & More; 3 Orthopedic Surgeons Bring Anterior Hip Replacements to Washington ASC;10 States With the Highest Average Orthopedic Case Volume per ASC ;Outpatient Spine Surgery Growth in Hospitals Outpaces ASCs: 5 Things to Know ;Dr. Kingsley Chin Completes ACDF Procedure in Record Time: 4 Observations; The Joint Commission Names 2 New Leaders: 5 Things to Know; Woman Sues California Hospital, Claims Physicians Left 8-inch Forceps Inside Her After Surgery; Study: 3 Best Practices for Improving Patient Safety Culture; AAAHC Report Identifies Top Deficiencies in Standards Compliance — 4 Key Findings; New Jersey Physician’s License Suspended After Accusations of Reusing Anal Catheters; CMS Launches New Quality Payment Program Data Submission System — 4 Insights; Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
2017
November, December 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC
Investors Turn to ASCs, Urgent Care Centers as Hospital Demand Declines;39% of ASCs are 15+ Years Old, 92% Have Physician Ownership: 14 Statistics on ASCs ;Which ASC Company has Grown the Most in 2017?;56 Statistics on ASC Operating Expense per Case;Lahey Health Lays Off 75 Employees as ASC Visits Plummet 4.5% ;Campbell Clinic has Sights Set on ASC in $30M Expansion Plans ;3 Biggest Opportunities for ASCs Today, 4 Healthcare Reforms That Will Affect ASCs Most in the Future ;39% of ASCs are 15+ Years Old, 92% Have Physician Ownership: 14 Statistics on ASCs ;5 Statistics on Ophthalmology Net Revenue per Case at Multispecialty ASCs ;How the CMS Final Rule will Affect Orthopedic ASCs: 5 Key Notes ;71% of ASC Staff Approve of EHRs: 6 Survey Findings ;Investors Turn to ASCs, Urgent Care Centers as Hospital Demand Declines ;Former Virginia Eye Center Administrator Indicted in Embezzlement Case ;Hiring Effectively in a Competitive Marketplace — How This Wisconsin ASC Administrator Finds Viable Candidates ;Tennessee ASC Performs 1st Implantable Eye Telescope Procedure in Cataract Patient ;Recruiting Staff in a Marketplace With 2 Large Hospital Systems: Milwaukee ASC Executive Director Fawn Esser Lipp Weighs In ;10 Statistics on RN Compensation by Practice Setting ;4 Opportunities in Outpatient Spine from Dr. Frank Phillips ;28 Statistics on ASC Drug, Medical Supply Expense ;Trump’s Tax Reform Plan: 7 Key Notes ;First Hill Surgery Center Adds TJR—5 Insights;Which ASC Company has Grown the Most in 2017? ;7 Hospitals, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs ;Regent Surgical Health Promotes Bob Ryan to COO: 5 Things to Know;Montana Health System Partners with USPI on ASC: 5 Key Points ;4 Recent ASC Acquisitions, Partnerships;20 States with the Most ASCs ;20 States with the Fewest ASCs;Medtronic to Study Infuse in PLF, TLIF Spine Surgeries in New Pilot Trials ;Physicians Rank Top 10 Hospitals for Hip Replacements — Hospital for Special Surgery No. 1 ;
Dr. Alexander Vaccaro: 2 Big Concerns and the Best Opportunity for Spine Surgeons in the Future ;Novant Health to Convert Old Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital Into ASC in $67M Renovation: 5 Key Notes ;Fired Swedish Health Neurosurgeon Receives $17.5M Award in Wrongful Termination Suit ;91.6% of Spine Surgeons Have Financial Ties to Industry: 5 Things to Know ;HCA Reports $140M Hit from Hurricanes, Expects 31% Drop in Q3 Profit ;The Anterior Hip Replacement Approach is Gaining Steam — Why That’s Good News for the ASC;Florida Gastroenterologist Innocent in ‘Rushed Colonoscopy’ Case ;Inner Damage to Endoscopes Could Jeopardize Cleanliness ;Massachusetts Medical Center Removing GI Endoscopy Unit from ASC;Which 10 US States Have the Most Overworked Nurses? ;6 Key Findings on Healthcare-Acquired Infections at New Hampshire ASCs ;Brigham and Women’s Mandatory Flu Shot Policy Prompts Nursing Suit;Common ASC Coding Errors: Orthopedics, Gastroenterology and Ophthalmology ;Why Revenue Cycle Needs Millennials — and, Like, Now ;Blue Cross Blue Shield’s MA Plans to Cover Outpatient Surgery for South Carolina Residents ;CMS to Terminate Hull Eye Surgery and Laser Center’s Medicare Benefits;The 10 Largest Health Insurance Companies by Membership;Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
September, October 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The State of the ASC Industry: Key Challenges, Opportunities & 5 ObservationsOpportunities & 5 Observations; CMS Proposes 1.9% Increase in 2018 ASC Pay, Adding Total Joint Replacements — 5 Insights; How to Set Up Total Joint and Spine Programs at ASCs—And What to Expect From Insurers in 3-5 Years; How to Protect Your Reimbursement as Payers Narrow Payable Diagnosis Codes; Is a 20% Savings in Operational Costs Hiding in Plain Sight at Your ASC?; Individualized Patient Payment Solutions: ClearGage Increases Access to Care without Putting Providers at Risk; Orthopedics, Ophthalmology and GI — ASC Administrator Marsha Rowe on ‘The Big Three’ Moving Forward; 16 Statistics on Young Physician Compensation in 2017; Where ASCs Fit in a Consolidating Marketplace — Is Independence an Option?; Outpatient Surgery Outstrips Inpatient Surgery Around 8M Surgeries Annually over 10-year Period ‘You Can do Good and do Well’ — DuPage CEO Michael Kasper on Transforming Healthcare; The Most Exciting Opportunities in Outpatient Spine; 3 Most Important Points on Physician Employment Contracts; Mount Sinai Opens New Orthopedic Center: 5 Highlights; American Orthopaedic Association Names New President: 4 Points; Hospital-ASC Joint Ventures for Spine and Orthopedics: An Evolving Relationship; How Hospital Ownership is Changing: A CFO’s Thoughts on ASC, Hospital Relations; Hospital for Special Surgery Plans Fall Opening for Surgery Center: 3 Insights; CMS Proposes 1.9% Increase in 2018 ASC Pay, Adding Total Joint Replacements — 5 Insights; New Technology? Research Code Accuracy Before Billing; Successful Total Joint Replacement Bundles in ASCs: 2 Factors to Prioritize; How to Set up Total Joint and Spine Programs at ASCs — and What to Expect From Insurers in 3-5 Years; Dr. William Tobler Performs Cincinnati’s 1st coflex Procedure in ASC Setting: 5 Key Notes; Atlanta Orthopedic Institute Collaborates with Practice Partners in Healthcare on ASC: 5 Key Notes; What Fence Surgical Suites Passes 5.5k TJR Milestone — 5 Things to Know About the Outpatient Center; The Surgery Center at Orthopedic Associates Introduces Total Joint Replacements, Building Overnight Recovery Suites: 5 Things to Know; Rothman Institute Merges With Trenton Orthopaedic Group: 4 Key Points; What % of Orthopedic Surgery Patients Report Unused Opioids? 5 Points; Texas Spine & Joint Hospital Now Under Baylor Scott & White Health Umbrella: 5 Things to Know About the Majority Sale; The Steadman Clinic Names Steve Wyrsch Vice President of Operations — 4 Insights; No Fusion, No Problem — How Coflex is Changing the Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment Field; Medtronic Completes $6.1B Sale of Partial Patient Monitoring & Recovery Division Businesses to Cardinal Health: 5 Key Notes; K2M Reports 10.9% Q2 Revenue Increase, $9.1M Net Loss: 7 Things to Know; The Biggest Problem in Gastroenterology & How to Fix it—Texas Digestive Disease Consultants; Staying Relevant—Dr. Larry Kosinski on the Future of GI in ASCs; Boston Scientific to Pour Money Into Endoscopy — Why?; The 20 States With the Best and Worst Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates;
July, August 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Net Revenue for 11 Common ASC Specialties — Orthopedics No. 1 with $3.1k; Physician-Owned Hospital Bill Introduced in Senate: 5 Things to Know; 5 Best Practices for Spine Surgery in ASCs; Solutions For Every Setting—Gastroenterologist Dr. Michael DiMarino on the gMed™ Suite; Avoiding 10 Common Billing Mistakes that Slow the ASC Revenue Cycle; 27 Statistics on Specialist Net Worth Exceeding $2M; Average Income for Top 20 Recruited Specialties: No. 1 Specialty Makes $579k; The Importance of Relationships in the ASC Industry; Physician-Owned Hospital Bill Introduced in Senate: 5 Things to Know; North Carolina Hospital Executives Speak Out After CON Repeal Bill Passes State Senate; North Carolina Hospital Executives Speak Out After CON Repeal Bill Passes State Senate; 7 ASCs Opened or Announced; EmergeOrtho Wins North Carolina CON Fight for ASC OR Against Novant Health; SCA Partners With Multispecialty Connecticut ASC: 5 Things to Know; CHS Divests 11 Hospitals, Adds 3 More to Sale Pipeline; OIG: Mount Sinai Hospital Overbilled Medicare by $41.9M; IBS-D Puts Financial Strain on Patients: 4 Study Insights; Underwater Colonoscopy More Effective Than Air Insufflation — 5 Insights; 6 Things to Know About Gastroenterologist, ‘Master of None’ Actor Dr. Shoukath Ansari; The Joint Commission Deletes 135 Performance Elements for Ambulatory, Office-based Surgery Programs; 28 Physician-owned Hospitals That Patients Would Definitely Recommend; 20 States With the Biggest Opioid Problems. Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
June 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Colorado ASC Involved in $14.9M Lawsuit Over Paralyzed Patient; 24 Statistics on ASC Company Management Fees; 10 Highest, Lowest Earning US Regions for Physicians; Bundled Payments in Spine: Key Thoughts from Dr. Stephen Hochschuler; 8 Things to Know About Anesthesiologist Compensation in 2017; Black Book Ranks 6 Modernizing Medicine EHRs No. 1: 5 Key Notes; Leading 10 Ambulatory EHR Vendors by Physician Practice Implementation; 11 Statistics on ASC Operating Expenses; 13 New ASCs Opened or Announced; Hospital for Special Surgery to Open HSS ASC of Manhattan in June: 5 Things to Know; Rush University Medical Center to Break Ground on $65M Building With ASC: 5 Points; SurgCenter Development Pushes Proposal for $4.5M ASC in Michigan — 5 Highlights; 13 Hospitals, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs; Surgery Partners Pays $760M for National Surgical Healthcare: 5 Things to Know; Why Rothman Institute Partnered with Northwell Health, and Where They Will Expand in the; Future; 5 Key Points on Orthopedic Physician Assistant Raises; The Next 5 Years for Spine Surgery in ASCs: Key Thoughts from Dr. Frank Phillips; 10 Facts on Gastroenterologist Compensation, Benefits and Regional Salary Breakdown; Gastro Health Acquires Gastroenterology Consultants: 4 Key Notes; CMS Adds Cologuard to Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Program: 4 Key Notes; Increased Merger and Acquisition Activity in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Market…What; Does it All Mean?; The 5 Largest Payers in the United States; CEO Pay at the 20 Largest Healthcare Companies by Revenue; What Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson Learned as a Patient in His Own Hospital; 11 Health Systems with Strong Finances; Hospital Industry’s Highest-Paid CEO Made More Than $51M in 2016; 8 Things to Know About Nurse Bullying; The Joint Commission Names Top 10 Most Challenging Standards; 5 Points on Improving Physician Compliance to Hand Hygiene Practices. Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
May, June 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
17 Facts and Concepts for Anesthesiologists and ASCs; 10 Top States for Physician Compensation; How Mark Cuban Would Replace the ACA and Fix the US Healthcare System; 15 Statistics on ASC Staffing; Top 20 Medicare Procedures in ASCs by Volume; Pain Management in 2017: Tips for Thriving Despite the Challenges; 16 Financial and Operational Trends for ASCs; Illinois ASC to Close After Health System Acquisition, 2 Years of $1M+ Losses: 5 Key Notes; 23 Anesthesia Mergers & Acquisitions in the Past Year; 15 Things to Know About Total Joint Replacements; 8 Ethical Concerns for Total Joint Replacement Gainsharing; These Factors Impact Knee Replacement Costs: 5 Observations; 8 Orthopedic-Driven ASCs Making Headlines; Stryker Launches Mako Total Knee Replacement Application: 5 Key Notes; Total Joint Replacement in ASCs: 10 Years & Counting for Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center — 5 Things to Know; Flower Orthopedics Releases FlowerAdvantage Program Designed to Reduce ASC Cost of Care; Colorectal Cancer Rates Up in Millennials — 5 Study Insights; Iowa Hospital Reaches $500k Settlement Over Colonoscopy Case; 11 Statistics and Benchmarks for Gastroenterology in ASCs; 10 Things to Know About Physicians Endoscopy; How Specialty Specific Alternative Payment Models Could Revolutionize ASC Care; Judge Awards Aetna $51.4M in Out-of-Network Billing Case Against Surgical Hospital; Anthem Lowers Outpatient Surgery Costs by 5.1% Through Value-Based Reimbursement — 5 Key Points; CMS’ 2018 Proposed Rule: 9 Things to Know; High Physician Turnover Rates Prevail in Large ACO: 5 Things to Know; 10 Things to Know About C. difficile; 7 Things to Know About MRSA; Ambulatory Services Market to Hit $2.5T by 2022: 5 Key Notes. Click here to download a pdf version of this Issue.
March, April 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Which Physician Specialties are Happiest?; Physician Burnout Up 25%+ in 4 Years: 6 Findings; HCA Gulf Coast Division Names Jim Brown Chief Development Officer; 7 Core Thoughts on Great Leadership; 9 New ASCs Opened or Announced' Physicians Endoscopy Acquires Minority Interest in The Endoscopy Center at St. Mary; Building an ASC Management & Development Roadmap for the Future; 5 RCM Benchmarks for ASCs to Know and Improve Upon; ASC Quality Collaboration Report: 9 Key Benchmarks From Q3 2016; 16 Benchmarks for ASC Balance Sheets; 18 Statistics on ASC Payer Mix 2016; 8 Trends in Healthcare Mergers & Acquisitions for 2017; Booming M&A Activity Spurring ASC Market Growth: 4 Points; 12 Thoughts for Surgery Centers — 2017; Kaiser Family Foundation: 7 Things to Know About Medicare & its Financial Future; President Trump Delays CMS Bundles Implementation by 60 Days: 4 Things to Know; Indiana Healthcare Data Transparency Website to Include 50 Outpatient Procedures; Leveraging Technology to Minimize Denials; Should Medicare Allow Total Joints in ASCs? Q&A with Drs. Barry Waldman, Derek Johnson; A Pilot Case Unlike Any Other—Massachusetts General Hospital Transplants Hepatitis C-Tainted Liver; Sensor Can Detect IBD During Colonoscopy: 6 Key Notes; Colonoscopies Fail to Increase Under ACA: 3 Key Notes; 10 Statistics, Facts for Anesthesiologists on Race, Ethnicity, Bias & Burnout; 4 Anesthesia Coding Updates for 2017; Anesthesia Business Consultants, MiraMed Submit to Become Qualified Clinical Data Registry; 23 Anesthesia Mergers & Acquisitions in the Past Year; The 6 Biggest Areas AAAHC Wants ASCs to Target in 2017; 5 Conditions That Most Often Lead to Unplanned Readmissions: Sepsis Ranks as No. 1; The Physician Almost Died in Her Own Hospital—What She Learned From the Experience; The 6 Biggest Areas AAAHC Wants ASCs to Target in 2017; 5 Conditions That Most Often Lead to Unplanned Readmissions: Sepsis Ranks as No. 1; The Physician Almost Died in Her Own Hospital—What She Learned From the Experience; Behind Bars for Fraud: Neurosurgeon Dr. Aria Sabit Receives Nearly 20-Year Prison Sentence—8 Key Insights; 5 Health Systems with Strong Finances; Cleveland Clinic Disciplines Physician for Writing Anti-vaccination Op-ed. Click here to download a pdf version of this issue.
February 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
8 Key Thoughts on Best Practices for Outpatient Cervical Spine Surgery; ASCs Band Together to Form North Carolina Ambulatory Surgical Center Association; ASC Leaders Share Their Top Goals for 2017; 25 Specialties Where Physicians Report Financial Loss Due to Practice Issues; The 4 Secrets to Scaling Your Business; 4 Key Thoughts for Building Physician Leaders; 25 Highest-Paid Healthcare Careers—Chief Executive Salary Hits $150k; Judge Orders Federal Government to Pay Moda Health $214M in Risk-Corridor Lawsuit; 16 Things to Know About Outpatient Total Joint Replacements and ASCs; 5 Statistics on Orthopedic Net Revenue Per Case at ASCs; Outpatient Rotator Cuff Repairs Increase 272% in a Decade—5 Facts on Orthopedics in ASCs; NYT: Surgeons Divided on Outpatient Total Knees for Medicare Patients, but Support to CMS Grows; Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Companies Launch Orthopedic Episode of Care Platform: 5 Things to Know; Medicare Episode Expenditures for Joint Replacement Decline 20.8% Following CJR: 5 Study Insights; 5 Key Notes on Quality Metrics for Total Joint Replacement Bundled Payments; Vero Orthopaedics & Neurology Adds ASC: 4 Key Notes; Zimmer Biomet, J&J, Stryker & More: 15 Device Company Key Notes; 18 New GI/endoscopy Centers That Opened in 2016; Korean Scientists Develop Artificial Liver for Human Transplants ; BCBS Gives Cologuard Positive Review: 3 Key Notes; Could Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty be an Alternative to Bariatric Surgery?; Microbial Richness, Presence of Methangens Negatively Associated With IBS; 50% of Gastroenterologists Feel Burnout—10 Takeaways; 5 Hospitals, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs; SC Health Department Denies Medical University of South Carolina’s CON Application for ASC; Medicare Overpays 5 Health Plans by $128M in 2007; Only Recovers $3.4M; SCA Builds on Advocate Health Care Partnership With Midwest Center Day Surgery Partnership, Midwest Surgical Management Group Acquisition; Novant Health, Local Physicians Face Off for CON; What Will Happen to Bundled Payments During Donald Trump’s Presidency?; The CORE Institute’s Condition-based Bundles—A New Approach to Eliminating Waste; 20 Staffing Statistics for ASCs; 5 Hospitals, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs; Healthcare Uncertainty May Yield Major Premium Increases; Cigna Terminates Deal With Anthem; Anthem Says Move ‘invalid’; Aetna, Humana Forgo Deal Following Judge’s Ruling: 4 Takeaways; VA’s HAI Campaign Yields Positive Results: HAI Rates Fell 87% in ICUs; CMS Launches 2 New Patient Engagement Models; 5 Takeaways on the Global Infection Control Market; Patient Body Left in Shower for 9+ Hours at Florida VA Hospital, Report Finds; 4.6% of Patients Under General Anesthesia May Remain Conscious: 3 Study Insights; 5 Strategies for RNs to Reduce Medication Errors CDC Director: Zika Threat Remains Active—5 Things to Know; 6 Top Advocacy Issues for APIC in 2017; Trump Meets With Leaders of Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Partners and Cleveland Clinic ; Top 10 Paying US Jobs—Anesthesiologists Take the Lead at $335k; UMass Memorial Points to Epic Implementation for Drop in Operating Income ; The 5 Healthiest and Unhealthiest States in America ; UHS Stock Tumbles 12% After BuzzFeed Investigative Report; Surgeons Rank as #1 Highest-Paying Job in These 16 States ; 5 Healthcare Technology Trends Taking Center Stage in 2017; Patient Shot After Opening Fire in Houston Hospital; Where Are CMS’ New Overall 5-Star Hospitals?; CHS on Track to Overcome Financial Troubles, Says CEO; Surgical Care Affiliates, OptumCare to Merge—6 Key Points. Click here to download a PDF version of this issue.
January, February 2017 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Independent vs. Hospital-Associated ASCs: Mutually Assured Destruction or an Uneasy Truce?; 5 ASC Powerhouses: 35 Things to Know on the Largest Surgery Center Chains; The Future of Spine and ASCs: 5 Trends to Watch; 10 Key Trends in Physician Executive Pay—C-suite Reaches $499k; What Will Happen to Value-Based Care Under the Donald Trump Presidency?; 8 Orthopedic Images to Know: C-arms, O-arms & G-arms; President Obama Calls for Honesty, Continues to Defend Health Law—6 Things to Know; Pence Says Trump Plans to Repeal ACA Right ‘Out of the Gate’ ; Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove’s Warning to all US Hospitals; 9 Mayo Clinic Strategies to Quench the Physician Burnout Flame; Medical Facilities Corp. Names Tyler Murphy CFO ; What Not to Wear—Physician’s Attire Elicits Mixed Responses in Outpatient Orthopedic Centers; Rochester Regional Health in NY Acquires Finger Lakes Bone & Joint Center: 5 Key Notes; CHS to Sell 17 Hospitals to Drive Down Debt; 7 Positive, Negative Healthcare Trends Impacting ASCs; SCA Forms Partnership With River Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center; Surgical Care Affiliates’ Q3 Revenue Jumps to $322.8M; Total Joint Replacement Business Doubles—14 Things to Know; AmSurg, Envision Healthcare Shareholders Approve Merger—4 Key Notes; Common Coding Pitfalls in ASCs & Best Practices to Avoid Falling in the Traps; CMS Final Rule Increases ASC Pay 1.9% in 2017: 5 Things to Know; Anthem Exec Testifies During Trial, Plans to Use Cigna as Tool to ‘Aggressively Compete’ Against BCBS Plans; Executives, Physicians at Dallas Hospital Indicted in Massive Kickback Scheme; 18 Statistics on ASC Payer Mix; Payers Increasing Scrutiny of Coding Compliance; 6 Payer Contracting Missteps to Avoid; 10 Top-Paying Medicare Procedures for ASCs; The Future of Spine and ASCs: 5 Trends to Watch; Overlapping Orthopedic Surgeries: Does it Affect Quality, OR Time in ASCs? 5 Key Notes; What Are the Driving Forces Behind Medicare Reimbursement for Total Joint Arthroplasty? 7 Key Notes; Stryker Courts With Ascential Spine Device, Inventory Management Solution: 5 Things to Know; Are High Volume Arthroplasty Centers Less Prone to Complications? 5 Study Insights; 5 ASCs With Total Disc Replacement Spinal Surgery; Rush University Medical Center & Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Receive Approval for $21M ASC; 106 Knee Surgeons to Know | 2017; New Patient Centered Curriculum Pushing NYU Langone GI Physicians to Strive for Excellence: 4 Key Notes; What’s the Future of Capsule Endoscopy Market? 5 Takeaways; Endoscopy Combined With Antiplatelets or Anticoagulant Agents Safe for Identifying GI Bleeding: 5 Key Notes; 7 Things AAAHC Surveyors Want ASCs to do Before Their Next Survey; Report: Healthcare Organizations Will be Targeted Most for Data Breaches in 2017; CDC: 10 Most Important Public Health Problems and Concerns; Calif. Nurse Fired Over Breach Involving 528 Patient Records; Patient-Centered Checklist May Reap Higher Patient Satisfaction, Better Surgical Care for ASCs: 5 Thoughts; 5 Key Notes on Workplace violence in Healthcare
2016
November/December 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The State of the ASC Industry: 10 Key Notes for 2017; 6 Out-of-the-Box Opportunities to Improve ASC Profitability in 2017; Healthcare M&A Volume Up 16%, Value Drops 39% in Q2: 8 Things to Know; 5 Financial Thoughts for Mid-Career Physicians; 5 Key Trends in Ambulatory EHR; Department of Public Health Threatens Independent ASC Survival with DON Regulatory Change Proposals; The Most Challenging Conversation for These 6 ASC Administrators; 8 Key Notes on Physician Practices: Just 33% Are Independent Practice Owners; What This Year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics Means for ACOs, Physician Compensation; 6 Key Notes on ASC Nondiscrimination Requirements Investor Sues Tenet After $514M Kickback Deal: 7 Things to Know; How Value-Based Care Breeds Joint Venture ASCs & Key Characteristics Hospitals Look for in Patients; 6 Hospitsls, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs; 5 Trends for Orthopedic Surgeons to Watch in 2017; A Snapshot of the 2016 Spine Industry & What the Future Holds; Dr. Keith Berkle Offers Outpatient Hysterectomies; New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Appoint 4 New Leaders; Sneak Peek for the Becker's 15th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + THe Future of Spine; Fix it, Don't Mask It- Illinois Pain Institute's Dr. John V Prunskis on What Makes Interventional Pain Physicians Successful; Spinal Fusion Trends & Challenges- Q&A with Dr. Vladimir Sinkov; Dr. Thomas Blasco on Improving Operations in ASCs; Current Challenges with OON Patients; 19 Things to Know about Orthopedic Bundled Payments; Vermont Moving to Full Value-Based Care Model in 2017: 5 Things to Know; Dr. Richard Wohns on the Impact of the New 10 ASC Payable Spine Codes; Dr. Richard Wohns on the Impact of the New 10 ASC Payable Spine Codes; Randomeware Attacks 300% This Year- 4 Key Notes; This Proposal is Causing Outcry Among Massachusetts Nurses- 5 Things to Know; 1st ASC Earns The Joint Commussion's Advanced Certification;Sepsis Infects 1M People Annually & 4 Other Key Facts; Deputy Shoots Inmate in Bed Taub Hospital Who Held Med Student Hostage
September/October 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
How One Miami-based ASC Increased its EBITDA by 90%-4 Key Strategies; CMS Proposes 1.2% ASC Payment Increase in 2017: 8 Key Points; 12 Largest ASC Chains in the US; Bringing in Young Blood to Your ASC: 4 Considerations for Recruiting Physician Investors; Mississippi Valley Surgery Center Commemorates 20 Years: 5 Things to Know; 6 Key Concepts for Smart Staffing at ASCs; 10 Most Common Motivators and Incentives for Retaining Healthcare Talent; 7 Cities with Primary Care Physician Decreases Surpassing 10%; Private Practice vs. Employement: 5 Points on Where Today's Residents Think They'll End Up; Leveraging RCM Solutions to Succeed in a Value-Based World; Study Finds ACA Blocked Formation of Physician-Owned Hospitals; Nobilis Health Acquires Arizona Vein & Vascular Center; 17 Largest Hospital Chains in the United States- For-Profit & Not-for-Profit; SCA Partners with Raritan Valley Surgery Center: 4 Key Points; Advocate to Pay Largest HIPAA Settlement to Date; 10 Recent RCM Company Product Launches; Outpatient Spending Expected to be Largest Driver of Premium Increases in 2017; 5 Health Systems with Strong Finances; Olympus Under Fire: Internal Emails Reveal US Execs Told Not to Issue Warning About Possible Fatal Scope Infection- 10 Takeaways; Aenta Cancels ACA Expansion Plans After Facing Losses Totaling $300M: 5 Notes; 6 Key Considerations Before Diving Into Bundled Payments- Take it from a Frontrunner ASC; Update Spine & Neurosurgery Center, Orthopaedic Associates Merge to Open $7.2M ASC; LA Dodgers Foundation Gives Orthopaedic Institute for Children Additional $20k for ASCs; 5 Key GI Payment Updates From Proposed CMS 2017 Fee Schedule; How Did Compensation Change for Executives, Providers From 2015 to 2016; 15 Statistics on Gastroenterologist Salary, Net Worth, Jobs & More; Top 10 US States with Most Anesthesiologists; 10 Things to KNow about Adenoma Detection; Addressing Front Desk Issues Helps ASCs Optimize Revenue Cycle; 36 ASCs With 23-Hour Stays; Coaching Teams to Greatness: 5 Core Management Truths; 8 Ways ASCs are Non-compliant on Quality Matters;CMS Penalizes 2.6k Hospitals for High Readmissinos: 5 Statistics; The CORE Institute Teams with The Joint Commission & CDC on ASC Infection Control Guidelines; The Rules of Infection Control Have Changed: 3 Compliance Issues & APIC's Role in ASC Compliance; Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Cause 25% of HAIs: 5 Statistics; Why Medically Unnecessary Surgeries Still Happen; Medical Errors Occur in Nearly 50% of Surgeries: 4 Key Notes; 4 Statistics on Sentinel Events; The Joint Commission Names Michael Kaba Chief HR Officer; Aetna Contacts 931 Physicians Prescribing the Most Opioids; CMS' 2017 OPPS/ASC Proposded Rule Adds 7 New ASC Quality Reporting Measures: 5 Things to Know; Malls May be the Newest Healthcare Destination: 5 Things to Know; Pediatric Office Drops 8 Families after Negative Facebook Comments; Trends in Healthcare Wearables: What You Need to Know; Banner Helath Suffers Year's Longest Data Breach: 3.7M Affected. Click here to view the featured stories and download a PDF of the issue.
July/August 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Common Mistakes in Valuing ASCs; 154 ASC Administrators to Know; 5 Strategies to Overcome Common Payer Stumbling Blocks; 6 Administrators Offer Tips for More Profitable ASCs: How to Make the Most of Billing, Staffing & Case Mix; Leveraging the Internet to Your Practice’s Benefit — 6 Medical Marketing Strategies From Dr. Tony Mork; Patients’ No. 1 Complaint? Front-Desk Staff; This Administrator Grew the ASC’s Physician Base by 35%: 4 Key Concepts; Operating a Successful Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Program; 5 Considerations for Adding Outpatient Spinal Surgery to a Fully-Equipped Center; Surgical Care Affiliates Q1 Revenue Jumps 19.5% to $279.7M: 10 Things to Know; Employed vs. Self-Employed Physicians: Who Has Higher Job Satisfaction Levels?; 9 New ASCs and Outpatient Surgery Centers; AmSurg Q1 Net Revenues Reach $724.7M — 19 Things to Know; AmSurg, Envision Healthcare Finalize $10B Merger: 8 Things to Know; Tenet’s Q1 Ambulatory Net Operating Revenue Hits $429M — 22 Key Points; 6 Recent ASC Acquisitions; 3 New Joint Venture ASCs ; ASD Management Celebrates 20 Years — Robert Zasa Looks Back on ASC Industry Evolution; SCA, Naperville Surgical Centre Partner: 4 Key Notes; Outpatient vs. Inpatient Orthopedic Procedures: Where are the Cost-Savings?; Specialty Pay Up Nearly 14.3% — 8 Findings on Physician, Advanced Nurse Salary Increases; 11 Top-Paying States for Anesthesiologists — Iowa Tops List; 18 Statistics on ASC Revenue per Case for Orthopedics; Payer Mix at Orthopedics-Driven ASCs: 5 Statistics; How do Patients Prefer Their Physicians Dress in the Office? 5 Observations; The Sound of Music: Dr. Jonathan Kaplan on Albums for Surgeons to Listen to in the OR; 8 Statistics on Ophthalmology: Payers, New Payment Models & Medicare; Only 30% of Consumers Shop for Healthcare Services: 4 Things to Know; ASCs Reduce Outpatient Procedure Costs by $38B Per Year Compared to HOPDs: 5 Insights; Top 10 Payers ASC Providers Prefer; Optimizing Patient Collections in the ACA Era; 6 Steps to Create & Maintain an Outstanding ASC Infection Control Program; ASC Infection Control: 3 Main Surveyor Focus Areas in 2016; 8 Key AAMC Considerations When Caring for LGBT Patients; Top 25 States With the Highest & Lowest ASC Wrong-Site Surgery RatesTop 25 States With the Highest & Lowest ASC Wrong-Site Surgery Rates; Physicians, Healthcare Executives Weigh in on Value-Based Care — 6 Survey Findings; 10 ASCs Achieving Accreditation; 12 Patient Handoff Communication Tools to Know. Click here to view the featured stories and download a PDF of the issue.
May/June 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
62 spine-driven ASCs to know; How to breathe new life into a 10+ year-old ASC: 6 key strategies; Considering alternative payment models in GI: 6 takeaways; Taking patient-centric ASCs to the next level — Thoughts from Coral Gables Surgery Center's Maria Freed; 8 statistics on physician starting salary & bonuses; Lead, don't drive — What it takes to be a strong ASC administrator; Practicing engaged medicine at ASCs — How videotaping surgery promotes transparency & patient engagement; Value-based payments are coming for orthopedics: Are you ready?; How to run a successful ASC, joint venture or independent — An administrator's insight; Develop great payer strategies in 2016: 5 key notes for ASCs; Doing the deal: Understanding the key differences between ASC and hospital RCM; 15 things to know about ASC valuation from HealthCare Appraisers' 2016 survey; ASC infection control: Sterilization wraps vs. rigid containers — Which is best?; Siemens, Ziehm, GE, Hologic, OrthoScan & Medtronic: 26 O-arm & C-arm systems; Memorial Sloan Kettering moves cases to the outpatient setting — 5 key thoughts. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
March/April 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 latest False Claims Act, Stark Law settlements; 12 things for ASC leaders to know about ACOs; Doing your due diligence: 5 considerations for ASCs when adding a new service line; Key thoughts on how you can run the best, most efficient ASC team meeting; 11 things to know about physician independence and employment; 8 recent ASC acquisitions — Feb. 5, 2016; 30 things to know about ASC employee, physician compensation; How to remain an independent ASC in 2016; Quint Studer to resign from Studer Group; Certain off-campus HOPDs subject to site-neutral payments: 4 key points; Nueterra divides into 2 companies: 4 highlights; 5 key thoughts on payer strategy for ASCs — Risk-sharing, narrow networks & payer consolidation; What payer consolidation means for ASCs — And how to conduct business moving forward; Georgia hospital CEO arrested for prescription drug fraud; 20 major companies band together to control cost of employee health benefits; 54 things to know about 6 major US payers; Patients as payers: How to understand & thrive in healthcare's consumer revolution; MedPAC proposes eliminating ASC payment updates in 2017: 5 key notes; Physician signing bonus at $23k in 2015: 6 things to know; The growth of outpatient spine — 9 Key Points; The best way to prepare for the future in spine: Dr. Hyun Bae; The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Illinois partners with SCA: 5 key notes; 92 orthopedics-driven ASCs to know; Innovation in GI: Advances in gastroenterology technology & technique; Proposed 2017 budget addresses Medicare coinsurance for screening colonoscopy: 3 quick points; Frenetic consolidation: The anesthesia market today & where ASCs fit in; The state of IPAs: The answer to the ACA or prolonging the march to employment?; 10 things to know about medical errors; Longer surgical resident hours don't hinder patient care, study says; A call for expanding residency slots: Medical school graduates may face a bleak future; Should your ASC go it alone? Pinnacle III CEO Rob Carrera on ASC independence; 62 minimally invasive devices for ASCs to know — 2016. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
February 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
51 things to know about physicians today — Compensation, employment & where young physicians are headed; 10 biggest challenges to ASC profitability in 2016; Putting it all out there — Price transparency in your ASC; 10 things for physicians to know about PAs, RNs & APNs; 40 statistics on ASC case mix — Orthopedics, GI, pain & more; 26 great books for ASC leaders — 2016 reading list; 6 strategic do's & don'ts for ASC leaders in 2016; 10 statistics on RN salary & bonus; 10 key leadership programs for physicians; 10 big healthcare industry trends for 2016; The makings of a great ASC administrator: 4 fundamental skills; Key trends on incorporating knee allografts into orthopedic ORs; 7 thoughts on great leadership; Soap or saline solution? Which is the better procedure for open bone fractures? 3 findings; The American Journal of Orthopedics Names Dr. Bryan Hanypsiak Editor-in-Chief; Risk Factors for Orthopedic Trauma Patients; Did Loma Linda's orthopedic device rep-less strategy work? 5 things to know; Rumors of a Stryker Acquisition of Smith & Nephew Swirl Once Again: 6 Key Notes; OrthoVirginia Merges with The Orthopaedic Center of Central Virginia; Key Thoughts on Integration in Orthopedics — Dr. Bert Mandelbaum; Rush University Medical Center, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Joint Venture Receives Green Light: 5 Key Notes; Orthopedics and Spine — 6 Trends for 2016; Surgery Partners, Surgical Care Affiliates,Tenet & more: 7 key notes; 5 Things to Know on the Effect of Physician-Hospital Integration; 5 Notes on CPT Code Changes for Anesthesia & Pain ManagementAnesthesia & Pain Management; Positioning Your Center for Success With Annual Revenue Cycle Audits; AAAHC Welcomes 3 New Executives; HOPDs vs. ASCs:5 Key Notes on Colonoscopy Quality Variation in Outpatient Facilities. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
January/February 2016 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
100 New Outpatient Surgery Centers in 2015; Healthcare is Barreling Toward Integration — 5 Key Thoughts on Where ASCs Fit; 20 Statistics on ASC Staff Hours Per Case; Which States Attract the Most New Physicians? 10 Key Statistics; A surprising uptick: More physicians not selling practices; Take Your ASC’s Patient Engagement to the Next Level; It's all about trust — Joe Zasa's insights on successful joint ventures; Joint venture cautiously — How to approach complex ASC-hospital partnerships; The Continuum From Surgery to Home: Key Thoughts on Post-Orthopedic Surgery DVT; How Medicare colonoscopy reimbursement cuts could impact GI in 2016 & beyond; Cigna settles shareholder class-action lawsuits over Anthem deal: 5 things to know; CMS bumps up payments for incomplete colonoscopies: 3 key points; Avoiding ASC Cash Flow Issues During Payer Mergers; Healthcare spending hits $3 trillion under ACA: 10 things to know; How to Overcome 5 Big ASC Supply Chain Headaches & Leverage Partnerships for the Future; Getting past the fear of spine surgery in an ASC setting; 7 ways 2016 CMS payment updates affect gastroenterology; Healthcare sector to be biggest source of jobs in next decade: 4 statistics; Maintaining infection control compliance in ASCs — Key strategies; 5 key notes on hand hygiene in outpatient settings: CDC report; Outpatient ASC quality data reporting: CMS gives Press Ganey thumbs-up for 2016 — 5 things to know. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
2015
November/December 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
59 ASC management & development companies to watch — 2016; Are independent physicians facing a dependent future?; How healthcare is changing: Key thoughts on making it positive for ASCs; Whistle-blower physician: 'We have got to get hospitals out of the business of hiring doctors'; 10 of the Biggest ASC Stories of 2015; The ultimate ASC revenue cycle management dashboard; 17 things to know about ambulatory EHRs; 3 tried & true ways to hire, keep star staff members for your ASC; 5 Out-of-Network Myths — Debunked; 8 hospitals & health systems opening ASCs; 9 Things to Know About Spine in ASCs; 18 things to know about anesthesia; ASCs save $2.3M for knee, shoulder surgery in California in 2 years: 5 key notes; The fate of the small GI practice: Independence or strength in numbers?; Key thoughts on benefits for patients; 6 key concepts for strong disaster preparedness plans at ASCs; Feeling tired? Stressed? You're not alone — 10 key thoughts on physician burn-out; Outpatient care has higher commercial costs when hospitals employ physicians: 5 things to know; 5 Out-of-Network Myths — Debunked; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
October 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Breaking Tradition: Don’t Discount These 4 Potential Partners; ASC single specialty vs. multispecialty — Which is best?; 8 things to know about ASC reimbursement; The ASC Industry Won’t be the Same: 2 Significant Changes Slowly Gaining Momentum; Recruiting Physicians for ASCs — ASCOA’s Jeff Péo Shares Insights; Speeding Up ASCs With Efficient Technology; 110 ASC Benchmarks | 2015; Using Analytics to Answer the Hard Questions in Revenue Cycle Management; Physician-Owned Hospitals vs. Non-POHs: Patient Mix, Payments & Quality — 8 Key Notes; Hospital-employed physician practices tend to favor their parent hospitals: 5 observations; 8 Hospitals & Health Systems Opening ASCs; Potential opportunities insurance mega-mergers hold for ASCs: 4 key thoughts; 5 statistics on physician compensation; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield hack may impact 10M: 5 things to know; Cleveland Clinic standardizes to 2 implant vendors, at least one orthopedic surgeon out; Did this orthopedic surgeon let his PA perform surgery? Dr. Munir Uwaydah faces conspiracy, $150M fraud & aggravated mayhem charges: 6 key notes; California ASCs to settle out-of-network class action with United Health: 5 key notes; How to Make Your Eye Center Supply Management More Efficient; Rising Stars: 62 ASC Leaders Under 40; 10 new surgery centers in September 2015; Physician frustrations: 6 biggest stress points; ASC quality report: Q2 2015 — 8 key findings; 15 Things to Know About Orthopedics for ASCs; Strengthening spine in the ASC industry — Dr. Richard N. Wohns' insight; ACG: 7 GI/endoscopy coding & billing tips for screening colonoscopy; The low-hanging fruit of ASC OR efficiency: 6 best practices; A towel, a sponge, a needle, oh my! — What did you leave behind during surgery? 10 key facts; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
September/October 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
14 Observations, Thoughts & Issues for ASCs 2015-2016; 14 Observations, Thoughts & Issues for ASCs 2015-2016; ASC Efficiency: Best Strategies to Overcome Today's Toughest Challenges; Publisher's Letter; The Ins & Outs of Data Collection in ASCs; 11 Innovative Apps for ASC Administrators; 11 Things to Know About Robotic Surgery; 11 Tips for Keeping HIPAA Compliance in the Digital Age; Preparing your ASC for a Valuation; GI Society Roundtable: Putting Together the Game Plan for Potential Colonoscopy Cuts; CMS Proposes Colonoscopy Payment Cuts for 2016: 4 Key Points; Payment Landscape Forecast: 3 Gastroenterologists Consider the Possibility of Colonoscopy Reimbursement Cuts; Dr. Dana Lukin: The Most Exciting Developments in IBD Treatment; 11 GI/Endoscopy Center Openings, Plans & Acquisitions in 2015; 20 GI/Endoscopy Company Updates for the 1st Half of 2015; 7 Things to Know About Endoscopy Competency Training; 14 Gastroenterologists Leading IBD Fellowship Programs; 170 GI Physicians Making Headlines in 2015 So Far; 5 Things to Know About the Independent Physician Landscape; New Edibles in Development for Colonoscopy Prep: 5 Things to Know; CMS Votes to Uphold Medicare Reimbursement for Cologuard; GI Drugs Excluded From CVS Caremark, Express Scripts Coverage in 2016; How an Orthopedics-Focused ASC Corralled Implant Issues & Makes Big Spine Surgeries Cost-Effective; Borland-Groover Clinic to Drop Blue Cross & Blue Shield Contract Due to Proposed 50% Reimbursement Cut: 5 Things to Know; Building an Orthopedics ASC Robotics Program: Benefits, Considerations & Where Technology is Headed; 10 Hospitals & Health Systems With Strong Finances; Carilion Clinic Converting Grocery Store into $15M Orthopedics, Spine Institute - 5 Key Notes; Time to Assess the Opportunities, Risks & Issues in a Changing Market; 10 Things for ASC Leaders to Know About CONs; Tenet Reports Q2 Results: 5 Things to Know Post-USPI Acquisition; High Plains Surgery Center, Covenant SurgiCenter Merge; AmSurg's Q2 Net Revenues Up 131%: 5 Key Notes; SCA's Q2 Net Patient Revenues Jump 7.1%: 5 Key Notes; Selling Equity in ASCs - An Investigation of Key Legal Concepts and Certain Equity Sale Models; AAAHC CEO Stephen Martin Jr.: 5 Key Trends for Successful ASCs to Know; What is 'The Cloud?' 10 Key Facts; US Health Spending to Reach $5.4T by 2024: 5 Notes; CMS Names 11 New Procedures for the ASC Payable Lis tin 2016: Spine, Laparoscopy & More; Top 5 Reasons Why Physicians Want to Change Workplaces; Kissing Camels Surgery Center Antitrust Lawsuit Against Centura Health to Go to Trial: 6 Things to Know; 11 Things to Know About Ophthalmology; 6 Statistics on Public Health Insurance Exchange Enrollees; Foot and Ankle Surgery Technology: Cellular Bone Allografts; 6 Things to Know About Orthofix; A Deeper Dive Into CMS' Proposed Stark Law Modifications: 6 Key Points; High-Quality Colonoscopy Linked With Cost Savings: 7 Key Points; 23 Statistics for Orthopedic Surgeons - Compensation, Net Worth & More; Surgeon Scorecard - Good or Bad for Orthopedics? 5 Things to Know; CNN Names Dr. Daniel Ivankovich 2015 Hero; Reimbursement, Opportunities & More - Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph's Key Thoughts on Orthopedics in the Future; In-Home Telerehabilitation Outcomes Positive After Total Knee Replacement: 5 Things to Know; Becoming a Top ASC - Survival in the Evolving Healthcare Market; Dr. David Geier: Key Thoughts for Orthopedic Surgeons on the ICD-10 Transition; Dr. David Geier: Key Thoughts for Orthopedic Surgeons on the ICD-10 Transition; Spinal Fusion After 10 Years: 5 Key Notes on Adjacent Segment Disease; Texas A&M Honors Dr. Richard Steadman: 5 Things to Know; 10 States With Least Competitive Commercial Health Insurance Markets; Surgery Partners Files for IPO: 5 Things to Know; ICD-10 Troubleshooting: Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure; 50 Things to Know About the ASC Industry; Cigna Files Multimillion-Dollar Suit Against 11 ASCs for OON Fee-Forgiveness Model: 7 Things to Know; 10 Key Notes on High Deductible Health Plans; Capital Digestive Care, Cigna Partner on Value-Based Colonoscopy Model: 5 Things to Know; How Big Five Insurer Mergers Could Affect Market Shares in 4 States; Anthem to Buy Cigna - And Then There Were Three: 7 Key Points; Insurer Mega-Mergers Could Produce Counterintuitive Effort; ASC Success in the Age of Consumer Responsibility: 3 Thoughts on High Deductible Patients; 65 ASC Company CEOs to Know - 2015; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
July/August 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
The Next 5 Years — 11 Key Thoughts & Best Strategies for ASCs; How to Grow Top-Line Revenue in ASCs; The Financial Pulse of Your ASC: 4 Key Notes on Revenue Cycle; McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center Fires Surgeon Who Performs Cases at ASC; 10 New Outpatient Surgery Center Plans, Openings; Healthcare Spending Rises 7.2% in Q1:5 Key Points; 3,900 Physicians Earn Millions From Medicare in 2013: 3 Things to Know; 15 Statistics on Net Worth for Physicians; OIG Kickback Alert Focuses on Physician Compensation Arrangements; Staying State-of-the-Art: The Investments That ASC Administrators Most Recommend; GI Financial Playbook: 3 Experts on Revenue Cycle Management for GI Centers; 7 ASCs With Quick A/R Turnaround; Tenet Completes USPI Transaction; 10 New Outpatient Centers; Physician Net Worth; ASC Legislation Update; Mobile Compression Post-Discharge as the Next Frontier; 4 New Joint Venture ASCs; USPI Partners With Surgical Institute of Reading — 7 Key Notes; 4 Recent ASC Acquisitions & Partnerships; Tenet Completes USPI, Aspen Healthcare Transactions; HCA Defeats Opponents: 5 Things to Know About TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center's $17M Surgery Center Project; Beloit Health System ASC Earns Long-Awaited CON: 4 Key Points; 132 ASC Administrators to Know | 2015; Are You Ready? Productivity, Cash Flow to be Hardest Hit by ICD-10; Blue Cross Parent Posts $281.9M Loss in First Year of PPACA Exchanges; Dr. James Chappuis: Merging Business Principles With Medical Practices; Healthcare M&A is Here to Stay — 7 Key Thoughts for Medical Practice Owners; 10 Notes on U.S. Drug Shortages; 3 Pieces of Legislation for ASC Leaders to Know; 7 Tips for ASCs to Ace the Accreditation Puzzle; 10 Summer Reads for ASC Administrators; How Orthopedic & Spine Centers can Thrive Over the Next 5 Years — Drs. Richard Wohns, Daniel Murrey, David Rothbart; 5 Fresh Ideas for Differentiating Your ASC; Dr. Richard Rosenfield: Creating the National Model for Successful Gynecology-Driven ASCs; Population Health and Spine: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Future; Slashing Supply Costs With Orthopedic Preference Items—7 Strategies; Healthcare Fraud: A $98B Industry — 10 Things to Know; Former OtisMed CEO Gets 2 Years in Prison in Knee Device Scandal — 5 Key Notes; 7 statistics on The PPACA & physician practices; New ASC Opening at Rockaway Beach: 8 Things to Know; Tenet Completes USPI, Aspen Acquisitions: 7 Things to Know; 11 Anesthesia Mergers & Acquisitions in 2015 So Far; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
June 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Healthcare Reform Marches On — 5 Key Observations for ASCs in 2015 & Beyond; How to Use the 4 Pillars of ASC Lean Staffing Without Sacrificing A-Team Employees; 5 Big Dysfunctions in ASCs — And How to Fix Them; HCA Defeats Opponents: 5 Key Notes on TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center’s $17M Project; OIG: Incorrect Coding on Physician Claims Leads to $33.4M in Medicare Overpayments: 5 Quick Facts; 10 Specialties With Highest Number of Physicians Suffering Financial Losses; SourceMedical Acquires LaClaro — 6 Things to Know; ASC M&A Activity: Trends for 2015 From HealthCare Appraisers; 37 Spine-Driven ASCs to Know; Total Joint Replacement Patient Selection in ASCs: 3 Orthopedic Surgeons Discuss Transactions & Joint Ventures; Healthcare M&A Up 19% in Q1: 7 Things to Know; Gramercy Surgery Center Opens New Location in Queens Market: 4 Things to Know; ASC M&A, Real Estate Today: 3 Key Thoughts From Jon Vick; USPI Net Revenue Jumps 9% in Q1 Amid Tenet Transaction — 10 Things to Know; AmSurg Net Revenue Jumps 12%, Growth Exceeds Expectations — 15 Key Notes; Nobilis Health Acquires Victory Healthcare Plano Hospital: 4 Things to Know; Ellis Hospital is Crowdfunding its New Surgery Center: 4 Insights; North Hills Surgery Center Begins Price Transparency: 4 Quick Notes; 10 New Outpatient Surgery Center Plans, Openings; New Eye Center Technologies & Trends: ASC Leaders Weigh In; 16 ASCs Recently Adding New Specialties & Procedures; 6 Key Thoughts on ASC Joint Venture Governing Board Structure; Understanding the Art and Science of Pain Coding; DISC Sports & Spine Center Signs In-Network Agreement With Anthem Blue Cross: 5 Things to Know; ASC-Specific Bundled Payments Coming to California — 8 Key Concepts; Healthcare M&A is Here to Stay — 7 Key Thoughts for Medical Practice Owners; Credentialing is Key — 7 Ways to Avoid Mistakes & Keep Patients Safe; Introducing Ab-Interno Canaloplasty: A New Approach to Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery; Slashing Supply Costs With Orthopedic Preference Items — 7 Strategies; AAAHC IQI Names Dr. Thomas James III, Donna Read Norton to Board; Healthcare Costs Up 6.3% for American Families in 2015 — 8 Key Notes; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
May/June 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Bold How ASCs Fit Into Population Health: Where are the Best Opportunities?; 5 Top Financial Issues for ASCs in 2015; 4 Key Implications of the USPI-Tenet Joint Venture; Publisher’s Letter; How ASCs Fit Into Population Health: Where are the Best Opportunities?; ASC Spending Up 4.87% in 2014 4Q; National Health Spending Projections to 2033: 5 Things to Know; SCA Closes Secondary Public Offering of Common Stock; Outlook for ASCs: How to Position for the Next Big Opportunities; 135 ASC Women Leaders to Know | 2015; How to Turn ASC Staffing From a Cost-Center Into a Value Center — 8 Key Steps; Prescription Drug Spending Reaches $374B in 2014; The Next Move in ASC Industry Consolidation: An Inside Look at the Tenet, USPI Joint Venture; Nueterra Acquires 3rd-Party Administrator: 5 Things to Know; 72 Statistics on ASC Staffing; Patients Want to Cost-Compare With Healthcare, But Are They Actually Doing It?; GI Physician Employment Trends; Squaring Off in GI: Employment vs. Private Practice; Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASCs; 5 Key Concepts for Spine Surgeons to Optimize Outpatient Cases; Laser Spine Institute Opens Cincinnati Surgery Center: 5 Things to Know; The Biggest Issues Facing Orthopedic Surgeons Today; The Best Opportunities for Orthopedic Innovation; Brookside Surgery Center Introduces CT-Free Robotic-Assisted Surgery for PKR; Top 10 Specialties With Highest Pay — Orthopedists Lead the Pack; 24 Staffing Statistics for Orthopedic Surgery Centers; The CORE Institute Partners With Surgical Care Affiliates to Open Surgical Hospital; Outpatient Spine Surgery Anesthesia — Key Thoughts From Dr. David Paly; Consolidation in Healthcare: Will it Continue for Orthopedics?; 10 New Pain Management Center Openings, Expansions; Delaware County Memorial Hospital Partners With Relievus Pain Management Centers; Dr. Gabor Racz Joins Stimwave Board of Directors; 6 Key Thoughts on ASC Joint Venture Governing Board Structure; Healthcare M&A Activity Posts Record-Breaking Totals in 2014; Hospitals in the ASC Market: Sorting Out the Rivals From the Potential Partners; How to “Go Big or Go Home” With Joint Venture ASCs; GI Quality in Healthcare Today; Measuring Outcomes & Quality of Care: How One of Healthcare’s Biggest Trends is Reshaping the Industry; 5 Insights Into Gastroenterologist Compensation; Boosting Your ASC’s Revenue Cycle; How to Manage Your Revenue Cycle Better to Improve the ASC’s Bottom Line; How to Find the Ideal ASC Medical Director; The State of Healthcare Recruitment in 2015: 7 Key Statistics; Improve ASC Quality & Patient Safety: 3 Target Areas; 190 Gastroenterologists to Know | 2015; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
March/April 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Bold Predictions in ASC M&A Landscape for 2015; Reshaping Adversarial Relationships: Payers Now Coming to ASCs; Direct-to-Consumer Marketing: 7 Tips for ASCs; Publisher’s Letter; Your Supply Chain Strategy is Failing — 4 Warning Signs; CMS ASC Quality Reporting Could Get 2 New Measures; Healthcare Hacks Jump 1,800% in 5 years, And Growing — 5 Key Points for ASCs; CMS Corrects HOPD, ASC Final Payment Rule; ASC Conversion Factor Drops; 10 Key Statistics on Medical Errors; The Most Common ASC Specialties: Urban vs. Rural; Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin to Open New Clinic, ASC — 5 Things to Know; Centers for Special Surgery of Essex County Opens in New Jersey; Surgery Partners Acquires ASC, Practices; How Outsourced Compounded Sterile Products Can Help Healthcare Providers Meet Today’s Challenges; Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty 15; 7 Fundamentals to Improve Physician Case Volume; Outpatient Spine Surgery Innovation: Key Concepts for Adding Cases; How to “Go Big or Go Home” With Joint Venture ASCs; 3 Pending ASC Projects; $5B in Medical Office Buildings Sold in 2014 — And Investors are Ready for More; 5 Recent ASC Industry Acquisitions; ASC Physicians: How to Build a Personal & Professional Financial Game Plan; 24 New ASC Joint Ventures; 5 Out-of-the-Box Ideas for ASCs to Collaborate With Hospitals (But Stay Independent); 5 Tips to Fix Supply Chain Failures; 5 Organizations With Great Cost-Cutting Strategies; Unlocking the Contractual Keys to Success; ICD-10 Change: It’s Real This Time... Again; 6 Healthcare Spending Trends; Medical Errors Still a Leading Cause of Death in America — 5 Things to Know; 5 Key Changes in CMS Guidance for ASC Surveyors; Exceptional ASC Nurse Leaders: Key Advice for Finding & Keeping Them; 10 Legislative Updates for ASC Leaders; 10 Legislative Updates for ASC Leaders; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
February 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Healthcare Strategy 2015 — Back to the Basics: 12 Key Thoughts; ASC Administrator Dashboard: 11 Daily, Weekly, Monthly Metrics; A New Era for ASC Partnerships — How to Optimize Payer & Patient Relationships; Publisher’s Letter; Trends in the Current Stark Law Enforcement Climate; 1st Outpatient Total Hip Replacement Performed in Illinois; 9 Recent ASC Company News Updates; Adopting the Updated GI Procedure Quality Metrics & What This Means for Practice; 8 Financial Issues for Total Joint Replacements in ASCs; Hospital Minority vs. Majority Partner: Which Makes More Sense for Your ASC?; Outpatient Centers to Give Hospitals a Run for Their Money in 2015; 8 Observations on Healthcare Spending Over the Next 5 Years; Here’s What Concerns Physicians About Value-Based Care; Making GI Dollars Stretch Further Than Ever: Insight Into Financial & Operational Efficiency; Healthcare Stocks No Longer Lead — But for How Long? 6 Things to Know; Medicare Pays for Spine Surgery in ASCs — But Does it Make Good Business Sense?; 156 ASC Industry Physician Leaders to Know: 155 ASC Industry Physician Leaders to Know; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
January/February 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
CEO New Year's Resolutions: 9 of the Best Ideas for ASCs in 2015; 10 Observations on Healthcare Merger & Acquisition Activity for the Future; Investing in Your ASC's Future: How to Appeal to the Next Generation of Physicians; 10 Habits of HIghly-Effective ASC Providers; ASC Turnarounds: Ideas to Improve Performance; Referral Patterns Changing? Where to Find Patients in the 21st Century; How to Ride Information to the Top: Maximizing the Value of ASC Data; Physicians Pay Hits a Plateau: 7 findings on Practice & Personal Income;
CMS to Increase ASC Pay 1.4% in 2015 - 8 things to know; 5 Trends to ASC Relationships With Payers; 10 Recent ASC Company Updates; ACA Implementation Heightens Importance of Managed Care Contracts; Price Transparency in the ASC Industry: Where are we now?; Crisis Adverted: 6 Tips for Effective Emergency preparedness; Patient Harms Fall 17% Since 2010: Are Federal Incentives Working?; 44 New Outpatient Centers in 2014; 22 New ASC Joint Ventures in 2014; 500+ People to know in the ASC Industry; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
2014
November/December 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
What the biggest ASC Transactions in 2014 Mean for 2015; The Making of Great ASC Board Members & Administrators: 12 Key Concepts; Are ASCs in Another Rough Q1?; Publisher's Letter; 12 ASC Administrators: 'Our Biggest Plans for 2015'; 10 Recent Updates on ASC Companies; 10 Predicitions for the ASC Industry in 2015; How Will the Republican Sweep Affect Healthcare?; ASC Medicare Payments to Rise 1.4% in 2015; Managing a PR Crisis: 8 Pro Tips for ASCs; Outpatient TKR: Critical Factors Enabling Successful TKR Procedures in ASCs; Should you sell your ASC? 17 questions to ask; Do Financial Incentives Improve OR Efficiency?; A Payment Solutions That Benefits Your Patients and Orthopedic Practice; 6 ASC Coding & Billing Changes to Anticipate in 2015; Colorectal Cancer Screening in 2015: Achievements to Date & Hurdles Ahead; Patient Saftey and the ASC: What the Industry Learned This Year; CMS Quality Reporting Updates 2015; Anesthesia Drug Shortages Are a Reality: 5 Options for ASCs; Key Legal Issues for ASCs: The PPACA Becomes a Game Changer; The 10 Biggest ASC Industry Stories of 2014 Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
October 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
100 ASC Benchmarks to Know — 2014; 10 Concerns Facing ASCs Heading Into 2015; What the Slowdown in ASC Growth Means for the Future of the Industry; Publisher’s Letter; Surgery Center False Claims Suit on Share Pricing Settles — 9 Key Points; Finding the Right ASC Benchmarks; How Low-Tech ASCs Compile & Use Data; The ASC Market by the Numbers: A 2014 Transaction Primer; Insurance Exchanges Year 2: 5 Thoughts; Are Mergers Driving Up the Cost of Healthcare?; Are Bundled Payments Worth It? An ASC Case Study; 4 gastroenterologists on building productive endoscopy center-payer partnerships; Six Sigma Methodology Can Improve ASC Cash Flow, Patient Satisfaction; ASC Quality Improvement: How to Maximize Effectiveness; Buying in Bulk, Just-in-Time Purchasing, Consignment: Which Supply Ordering Pattern is Right for Your ASC?; PODs Under Attack — 5 Things to Know; 5 Key Ways to Strengthen the Surgeon-Anesthesiologist Relationship; Rising Stars: 49 ASC Leaders Under 40. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
September/October 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
New Physician Buy-In: 4 Trends for JV ASCs; ASC Payer Mix — Developing the Best In-Network, Out-of-Network Strategy; How Could Midterm Elections Impact ASCs?; Publisher’s Letter; 4 Smartest Things ASC Owners Can Do to Increase Value; 10 Keys to Being a Great ASC Administrator; Top Strategies for ASC Physician Owners to Build a Smarter Business; Considering New Higher Acuity Cases? Don’t Forget the Basics; ASC Company Updates: 10 Things to Know; Data Analytics in ASCs: The Future is Here; How ASCs Can Take Advantage of Local Partnerships; The Little Things That Boost Big Payoff in Paid Receivables; Joint Venture Operating Agreements: 9 Points That Make or Break Partnerships; Independent Physician Outlook: Buyer’s Market Here to Stay; Preparing Your ASC for a Transaction – Valuation 101; 60 ASC Management & Development Company CEOs to Know; Becker’s ASC 21st Annual Meeting - The Business and Operations of ASCs Conference Brochure; Narrow Networks: ASC Industry Boon or Bane?; Next-Level Revenue Cycle Management: 3 Approaches; Endoscopy Center Success in Turbulent Times: 9 Imperative Lessons; The Road to ASC Financial Success: 8 Supply Chain Cost-Cutting Strategies; 5 Big Endoscope Reprocessing Risks in ASCs: How to Avoid Them; Creating a Culture of Gastroenterologist Leadership in ASCs; 3 Innovative Quality Improvement Project Ideas; 11 ASCs With Innovative Cost-Cutting Initiatives; How to Handle Managed Care Contracts Before Entering Into a Joint Venture; The Future of Orthopedics in ASCs: 3 Key Thoughts; 5 Supply Chain Management Trends; Flower Orthopedics-McKesson Partnership: A Value Proposition. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue.
July/August 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Price Transparency Will Save Healthcare $100B: How ASCs Are Taking Advantage; 5 of the Most Pressing Financial Issues for ASCs; How Far Gone is Too Far Gone? An ASC Turnaround Story; Publisher’s Letter; 8 ASC Company Q1 Financial Results: Stormy, but Promising Start to 2014; If CMS Lowered HOPD Rates, What Could ASCs Expect?; 10 Areas of Focus for ASC Facility Reviews; Bumping Up Profits: Strategies for a Financially Stable Orthopedic ASC; ASC Referral Patterns: Deciphering 6 Big Industry Trends; 5 Solutions to Generate Improved ASC Cash Flow; Best Tips on Negotiating With Payers: Administrators Speak Up; 9 Threats to ASC Revenue Cycle Management Success; Revenue Cycle Management Challenges: Best Practices for Eye Centers; From Now Until October 2015: The New ASC ICD-10 Implementation Timeline; 5 Key Thoughts on Pain Management This Year; 14 ASC Industry Transactions in 2014 So Far; Combining Forces: Are ASC Mergers the Answer to the Challenging Healthcare Environment?; 5 Core Concepts on Robotic Partial Knee Surgery in ASCs: Navio Makes it Possible; Controlling Costs, Physician Recruitment & More: 5 Gastroenterologists on Injecting Life into Endoscopy Center Profitability; Becker’s ASC 21st Annual Meeting - The Business and Operations of ASCs Conference Brochure; After Accreditation: How Does the Process Improve ASCs?; 107 ASC Administrators to Know; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
June 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Most Attractive ASC Specialties Through 2020; ASC Payer Trends: Evolving Market Creates Opportunities for ASCs; Anesthesia Group M&A is On the Rise: What Does This Mean for ASCs?; Publisher’s Letter; AmSurg, SCA, USPI & More – 6 Recent Key Notes on ASC Companies; 6 Insights From ASC Leaders for 2014; Administrator Roundtable: Trials & Tribulations of Adding New Specialties and Procedures to ASCs; Engaging Surgeons: A How-To Guide; GI/Endoscopy Center HIT: The Future is Here; How EHR Contributes to GI Center Value: Clinical Quality & Profitability; Capitalize on Technology: 3 Quick Tips for ASC EHR Selection; 5 Things to Know About Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act; 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare | 2014; ASC Referral Patterns: Deciphering 6 Big Industry Trends; How ASCs Can Benefit From Adding Sports Medicine; Single-Specialty ASC Transaction & Valuation Outlook: Bright or Dark?; ASCs in 2014 — 3 Key Trends; Joint Venture ASCs: Are They the Best Strategy Going Forward?; CON States: How to Open a De Novo ASC; The 3 Most Exciting Advances in Endoscope Reprocessing; OIG Says Bring Down HOPD Rates for Surgery to ASC Rates, CMS Disagrees: 11 Things to Know; Refresher Course: How Can My ASC Prevent Sharps Injuries and Stay Compliant?; Credentialing Checklist: What to Check, Double-Check and Triple-Check to Achieve Compliance; What Does the ICD-10 Delay Mean for ASCs?; ASC Implant Carve-Outs: Opportunities, Challenges & 4 Best Practices; 6 ASCs Performing Rare or Unique GI/Endoscopy Procedures; 5 ASCs Performing Rare Orthopedic Procedures; 5 ASCs Performing Rare Ophthalmology Procedures; 4 ASCs Performing Rare Pain Management Procedures; Becker's ASC 21st Annual Meeting - The Business and Operations of ASCs; Taking on the Paradigm Shift in Care Delivery: What Does Value-Based Care Mean for Gastroenterologists?; The Hancocks of Healthcare — A Nashville Success Story; Supply Standardization: 7 Ways to Achieve ASC Physician Buy-In; Supply Chain Checklist: Daily, Weekly, Monthly Tasks for Efficient ASCs; Unique Methods of Payment: Opportunities for ASCs?; CMS No Longer Requires ASCs to Have Radiologists; 3 More Key Trends Impacting ASC Growth in 2014; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC Growth & Evolution in the New Healthcare Environment; Health Insurance Exchanges Gaining Steam: Great or Terrible for ASCs?; 8 Key Thoughts for ASCs on Out-of-Network Services; Publisher’s Letter; 6 Recent ASC Management & Development Key Notes – AmSurg, ASCOA, USPI & More; HCA, SCA, AmSurg, USPI & Symbion: 5 Key Facts About 5 of the Largest ASC Companies; Eliminate Staffing Overlaps: 7 Strategies to Run a Lean ASC; Avoid Dire Hires: ASC Administrators Reveal Innovative Hiring Strategies; Gastroenterology Practices & Endoscopy Centers: Best Opportunities for Expansion; ASC Financial Dashboard for Physician Owners; 21st Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference brochure; How Does Physician Ownership Impact ASC Valuation? Q&A With VMG's Aaron Murski; ASC Ownership Division: Structuring a 3-Way Joint Venture That Works; Hospital Joint Ventures: The New ASC Physician Succession Plan?; CMS Reporting: How Has it Changed Quality Data Collection?; ASC M&A Activity: 4 Big Trends for 2014 From HealthCare Appraisers; Potential Impact of MedPAC's Recommendation on ASC/HOPD Payments for Eye & Pain Procedures; The Expansion of Anesthesiology Leadership in ASCs: 4 Key Areas; Anesthesiologist Compensation: 5 Points; How to Structure Sound Shared Savings Programs: Get Physicians Involved; ASC Case Scheduling: Best Ideas for Biggest Efficiencies; 5 Key ASC Revenue Cycle Management Performance Indicators; 2014 CPT Code & Medicare List Updates: What Do ASC Leaders Need to Know?; A Closer Look at the Cost of Accounts Receivable; What Will it Take For Total Joints to Succeed at ASCs?; Medicare-Certified ASCs Grow 12% From 2007 to 2012; Reducing the Risk: Endoscope Reprocessing in Ambulatory Surgery Centers; Colonoscopies in Ambulatory Surgery Centers: Saving Lives Through Increased Screening and Advances in Technology; Horizon BlueCross BlueShield of New Jersey Launches Program to Improve Colonoscopy; Hospital Employment to Private Practice: 70% of Physicians Happier After the Switch; Eliminate the Weak Links in Supply Chain: 4 Core Points; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
ASC Ownership Trends: Are Physicians Making the Investment?; Polishing the 3-Way Partnership: 5 Priorities for Joint Venture ASCs in 2014; Healthcare Reform: Impact on ASC Managed Care Contracting Next Year; Publisher’s Letter; Forecasting the Demand for Colonoscopy: 4 GI Physicians Weigh In; The New 2014 Medicare N1 Codes: How Will This Affect Your Ambulatory Surgery Center?; 6 Recent ASC Management & Development Company Key Notes – HCA, SurgCenter Development, Surgical Care Affiliates & More; 2014: A Promising Year for De Novo ASC Activity?; Build an Effective ASC Physician Recruitment Strategy: Q&A With Winborne Macphail of Surgical Care Affiliates; ASC Management Company Outlook: How to Find the Best Fit; Surgical Information Systems Acquires AmkaiSolutions; Beyond the Numbers: Benchmarking ASCs to Operational & Financial Success From SOIX; 6 Frequent Questions on ASC Benchmarking Answered; ASC & Hospital Partnerships: Weighing the Pros & Cons; ASC Buyers & Sellers: Valuation in 2014; Are ASC Management &Development Company & Hospital Partnerships on the Rise?; 25 ASC Administrators Offer Insight on Joint Venture Leadership; 12th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine Brochure; Pulling Back the Curtain: How Stony Point Surgery Center Embraced Price Transparency: Q&A With CEO Bruce P. Kupper; Overcome the 4 Most Common Pitfalls in ASC Revenue Cycle; 7 Tips for Effectively Managing ASC Billing Processes; USPI Reports $616.2M Net Revenue for 2013, Up 14%; AmSurg Revenue Grows 17% in Q4, Acquires 6 Centers in 2013; Using Advanced Technology to Simplify Revenue Cycle Management; The Future of Spine Surgery at ASCs: Q&A With Meridian Surgical Partners President Kenny Hancock; 40 Statistics on Surgery Center Staff Salary & Hours Per Case; Dr. Caroll Koscheski of ACG: Value-Based Care in Gastroenterology; Eye Surgery Centers: Opportunities, Challenges & Value-Added Procedures; ASC Sector M&A Activity: Outlook for 2014; How Will Healthcare Reform Impact Spine Surgery Reimbursements?; 8 Areas in Supply Chain Management Where ASCs Lose the Most Money; Simplify ASC Supply Chain: 4 Tips From Administrator Dominic Vendetta; 12 Statistics on Surgery Center Supply Chain Strategy & Physician Engagement; From Provider Collaboration to Coding & Billing: How to Successfully Bring Bundled Payments to ASCs; 60 ASCs Opened in 2013; ASC QI Projects: Best Ideas for Biggest Impact; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
February 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC Schedules, Staffing & Supply Costs: Strategies to Eliminate Inefficiencies From ASCOA CEO Luke Lambert; The Business of Medicine: How ASC Physician Owners Can Become More Financially Aware; Are There New ASC Physician Investors? Opportunities, Challenges & 5 Tactics for Successfully Attracting New Partners; Publisher’s Letter; 7 Recent Key Notes on ASC Management & Development Companies – AmSurg, ASD Management, HCA & More; 8 Steps for ASCs to Identify & Grow Nurse Leaders; ASC Administrators & Physician Champions: The Relationship Every Successful ASC Needs; 100 Minimally Invasive Orthopedic & Spine Devices to Know; 5 Statistics on ASC Physician Transactions; Knightsbridge Surgery Center: An Inside Look at Crafting a Productive ASC-Health System Joint Venture; Lawmakers, Organizations Call for Loosening of North Carolina CON Law; 12th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference+ The Future ofSpine Brochure; ASC Management & Development Companies: A Growing Market Power?; SourceMedical Names Ann Geier Vice President-Clinical Informatics; Staying at the Forefront of a Rapidly Evolving Field: 5 Gastroenterologists Weigh In; Raising and Maintaining Staff Engagement: 6 Spine Surgeon Leaders Discuss; How to Take Control of ASC A/R Days: Q&A With Jessica Nantz; 35 Statistics on Surgery Center Claim Denials; Planning for the New Year: 3 Big Trends for ASC Leaders to Watch in 2014; 10 Steps to Take Control of Implant Prices From ASC Leaders; 101 Physician Leaders to Know in the ASC Industry; Build an Outstanding ASC Quality and Accreditation Committee: Q&A With Brainerd Lakes Surgery Center's Sandy Berreth; 8 AAAHC Core Standards; 24 Statistics on Surgery Center Operating Expenses per Square Foot; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January/February 2014 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Industry Evolution: Where Does the Future of ASC Independence Stand?; 12 Focus Areas to Boost Surgery Center Case Volume & Revenue in 2014; ASC Landscape in 2014 & Beyond: Healthcare Reform’s Biggest Threats, Opportunities; 13 Recent ASC Management & Development Company Key Notes; Southern Indiana Surgery Center Turnaround: From Decline to Profitability; Business Growth: What ASC Resyndication Can Do for Physician Owners; ASC Growth in 2014: Biggest Barriers & Best Opportunities From Administrators; Consolidation in Healthcare: Should ASCs Join In?; Should ASCs Move From Out-of-Network to In-Network? Assessing the Switch; 12th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Business of Spine Brochure; Biggest Concerns of ASC Physician Owners in 2014: Q&A With Dr. Brad Lerner of Summit Ambulatory Surgical Centers; New OIG Advisory Opinion: 13-15 Further Hardens Line on Anesthesiologist Relationships; 13 Surgery Centers Adding New Specialties; Strategies for Growing Patient Volume: 4 Gastroenterologists Discuss; 5 Coding & Billing Changes to Anticipate in 2014; The Best of Both Worlds: 7 Keys to ASC Physician Preference Items Without Sacrificing Satisfaction; Defeat Time & Materials Waste in Surgery Centers: Q&A With Elizabeth Toony; Partial Knee Replacements With Robotic Technology: A New Trend for ASCs; AAAHC: 9 Top Surgery Center Accreditation Slip-Ups & Their Foolproof Solutions; CMS Drops Bariatric Surgery Center Accreditation Requirement: ASMBS Responds; 50 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare — 2013; 10 Top Billed Ophthalmology Procedures With Highest Denial Rates; 33 Statistics on Surgery Center Case Mix by ASC Volume; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2013
Outlook on the ASC Industry for 2014: Biggest Concerns & Best Strategies for Success; 237 People in the ASC Industry to Know; 5 Key ASC Specialties & Capabilities to Add in 2014; 12 Key Notes on ASC Management & Development Companies; Best ASC Benchmarks From 6 Administrators; From Intake to Discharge: 4 Tips to Perfect Patient Flow at Surgery Centers; 5 Things to Know About ASC Transactions for the Next 5 Years; Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Urgent Care Centers & Others: Where Do Ancillary Services Stand in the Race for Consolidation?; Not-For-Profit Hospital & Physician Joint Ventures: Spotlight on Ambulatory Surgery Centers; 50 ASC Management & Development Companies to Watch in 2014; 5 Key Trends in GI/Endoscopy; How ASC/AECs Can Survive Coming Healthcare Changes: Q&A With Barry Tanner of Physicians Endoscopy; Budget-Friendly Tips for Acquiring New Technology; 8 Benchmarks to Improve Profitability at GI-Centers; 5 Common Employee Disciplinary Issues at ASCs — How to Overcome Them; 5 Secrets to Build a Powerhouse Surgery Center Marketing Strategy; Physician CEOs of Multispecialty Medical Groups Report $424k in 2013, Up 3%; Clinical Trends in Ophthalmology: 3 Physicians Discuss; Advancements for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in ASCs: 7 Physicians Discuss; 6 Gastroenterologists on Opportunities in 2014; 6 Steps for Surgery Centers to Avoid Patient Transfers; Standardized Surgical Skin Antisepsis Protocol at Surgery Centers: 4 Imperatives; Skin Prep Products: What You Need to Know for Standardized Antisepsis Protocol in Surgery Centers; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
100 ASC Benchmarks & Statistics to Know; 6 Biggest Threats to ASCs Right Now; 6 Golden Rules of Surgery Center Staff Engagment from Lori Martin; 7 ASC Administrators on Remaining Competitive Post-Healthcare Reform; 7 Steps to Plan for Sustainable, Long Term ASC Success; 8 Tactics to Strengthen Surgery Center Physician Credentialing; Can ASCs Survive Healthcare Reform? Q & A with Kim White; Developing a Positive Community Presence for Surgery Centers; 5 Best Practices for Managing Leadership Transitions in ASCs; 5 Steps for Smooth Surgeon Relations at a Cost Conscious Surgery Center; ASCs Projected to Save Medicare $57.6B Over Next 10 Years; GI Diagnostics & Treatment; 3 Revolutionary Trends; 7 Ways to Use Key Quality Metrics to Improve GI Centers; 18 Statistics about GI/Endoscopy in Surgery Centers; 6 Questions Surgery Center Leaders Need to Ask When Adding a New Specialty; 5 Surgery Center Joint Venture Models; 5 Tactics for Attracting Physicians in an age of Hospital Integration; 7 Statistics on ASC Offering Price; AMA Report: 60% of Physicians in Physician-Owned Groups; 6 Gastroenterologists on Evolving to Meet Challenges in Today's Healthcare Environment; Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs--Getting Paid in a Timely Manner; Coding & Reimbursement for Spinal Surgery in Surgery Centers: Q&A with Carolyn Neumann; 50 Opthalmologists on Top Issues in the Field; Sports Medicine in ASCs: 8 Surgeons Discuss; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
8 Strategies for Smart ASC Physician Investors to Prepare for the Future; 4 Ways to Avoid Common Surgery Center Financial Mistakes; Rising Stars: 40 ASC Industry Leaders 40 Years or Younger; 7 ASC Administrators on the Biggest Challenges in Their Surgery Centers; 7 Key Financial Metrics at Surgery Centers; Cut Costs Where it Counts: 5 Steps to Reduce ASC Staff Hours Per Patient; 12 Statistics on ASC Case Volume Mix; Countdown to the Deadline: A Guide for Making the ICD-10 Transition; 5 Ophthalmologists on How the Field is Evolving; 5 Ways to Make Patient Satisfaction Surveys Work for Surgery Centers; 6 Gastroenterologists on the Biggest Challenges in GI/Endoscopy Today; Biggest Opportunities for Orthopedics in ASCs: 3 Orthopedic Surgeons Discuss; 20th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference Brochure; Achieve Appropriate ASC Reimbursement With PPACA: Q&A With Greg Maldonado of ANMM; 5 Reasons for ASCs to Remain OON; 201 Women Leaders in the ASC Industry to Know; 8 Trends for Airway Management in Outpatient Cases; 5 Advantages of Video Laryngoscopy in ASCs; Employer Mandate, Individual Mandate & Health Insurance Exchanges: 7 Things for ASC Owners to Know; 7 Key Areas to Recruit a Superstar ASC Director of Nursing; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Strategies for ASC Success in Healthcare Saturated Markets; 123 Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrators to Know; Driving Value in Spine Care: Outpatient Spine Surgery; July/August 2013 Publisher's Letter: 5 Key Trends in Healthcare for 2013; 8 ASC Administrators on Efficiency at Their Centers; 6 Key Strategies for Administrators to Bring ASCs Into the New Era of Healthcare; 5 Ideas to Engage Surgeons With Surgery Centers Throughout the Year; Insurance Plan Options for ASC Staff: 3 Plans to Consider; 5 Strategies for Effective ASC External Benchmarking; How Healthy is the ASC Transaction Market? Q&A With Colin McDermott of VMG Health; 12 Recent Surgery Center Openings & Announcements; 6 Tactics for ASCs to Survive in a Single Dominant Payer Market; 139 Speakers at the 2013 Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference; What do ACOs Really Mean for ASCs? Q&A With Ken Arvin, Esq. of Sheridan Healthcare; 5 Qualities of Spine ASC Leaders for Today & Tomorrow; 8 Ideas on Public Relations Programs for ASCs Without Large Marketing Budgets From Central Maine Orthopaedics; 5 Things to Know About Adding Pain Management to Orthopedics ASCs; 10 Key Thoughts for ASC Administrators Before Large Equipment Purchases; 8 Trends in ASC Payer Rates & Contract Negotiations; 13 Statistics on Medicare Patient Volume in ASCs vs. Hospitals; 20 Most Frequently Performed Medicare Surgical Services in ASCs; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Improvements to Make Good ASCs Great;35 Joint Venture ASC Administrators to Know; 6 Ways ASCs Must Evolve to Meet Billing Challenges From Surgical Management Professionals CEO Mike Lipomi; 5 Initiatives for a Better Patient & Physician ASC Experience; 7 ASC Leaders on the Impact of Healthcare Reform on Their Centers; Is Your A/R Costing You More Than You Realize?; 12 Statistics on ASC Administrator Salaries; 8 Steps to Maximize Compact Scheduling at ASCs; 7 Steps for a Smoothly-Run Multispecialty ASC; 30 ASCs With 20+ Years of History; 5 Big Factors in ASC Merger & Acquisition Activity Today; 12 Statistics on Surgery Center Case Volume; Survey: 69% Providers Expect Costs to Drive Outpatient Populations; 20th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference Brochure; 5 ASC Deal Terms Affecting Business Value; Perceived Value and Longevity for Surgical Specialties and CONs; Industry Trends for ASC Life Cycles and Transaction Activity; ACOs 101 for ASC Administrators: Q&A With Stephen Rothenberg of Numerof & Associates; Price Transparency is Coming: 10 Things for ASC Leaders to Know; 7 Steps for ASCs to Ensure Accreditation Survey Readiness; 61 ASC Management & Development Company CEOs to Know; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Tips to Make Efficient ASCs Even Better; 50 ASCs Performing 10,000+ Annual Procedures; When ACOs Come to Town: Q&A on Strategies for ASCs With Jon Friesen of Nueterra; 1 10 ASC Leaders on Making Their Centers Stand Out; 6 Ways for ASCs to Adopt & Benefit From Flexible Employee Schedules; 5 Steps to Turn Your ASC Into a Destination Setting; 10 Top Ambulatory Care Procedures & Unexpected Denial Rates; HIPAA Compliance: 5 Key Considerations for ASCs, Physician Practices and Small Providers; Expect an Increase in New ASC Development: Q&A With Rob Carrera of Pinnacle III; 10 Essential Elements for Excellence in ASC Infection Control Programs; 4 Challenges ASCs Face in Standardizing Infection Control & How to Overcome Them; 6 Considerations for ASC & Hospital Joint Ventures; 12 Recent ASC Openings & Announcements; 5 Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Trends for ASCs to Know; Why Spine is Coming toASCs: 3 Big Reasons; 6 Effective Steps to Lower ASC Materials Costs; 6 OIG Issues Special Fraud Alert on Physician-Owned Distributorships; Medical Device Purchases: 3 Points on Physician Influences; 5 Steps to Cut Supply Costs at GI/ Endoscopy-Driven ASCs; 4 Points on How ASCs Can Make Out-of-Network Contracting Work; The 2% Medicare Reimbursement Reduction: Q&A on How it Impacts ASCs; 100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Strategic Initiatives for ASCs to Prepare for the Future; 200 Orthopedic- & Spine-Driven ASCs to Know; Outlook for De Novo ASCs in 2013 and Beyond: Q&A With Luke Lambert of ASCOA; Publisher's Letter; 10 Biggest Factors in Negative Cash Flow at ASCs & How to Turn Them Around; 6 Crucial Strategies for Profitable ASCs From Regional SurgiCenter; 6 Ways to Slash Costs of Spine Surgery at ASCs; 5 Reasons to Conduct Regular ASC Valuations; ASC Valuation Analysis: 3 Biggest Opportunities for Improvement; Future Surgery Center Transaction & Acquisition Expectations: Q&A With Todd Mello of HealthCare Appraisers; 36 GI & Endoscopy-Driven Centers to Know; 10 Ways to Negotiate Better Rates for Orthopedic Cases in ASCs; 9 Ways to Increase Profit in Low-Reimbursement Specialties; 6 Best Practices to Avoid Common ASC Coding Mistakes; 5 Points to Consider Before Merging an Anesthesia Practice; 6 Smart Moves for Ophthalmology ASCs in 2013; 30 Statistics on Surgery Center Staff Compensation; 5 Initiatives for Higher ASC Operating Margins. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
9 Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Spine Surgery to an ASC; 4 Specialties and Procedures to Consider Adding in 2013; 11 Ways to Cut Overhead Costs in Surgery Centers; 10 Ways to Improve ASC Finances & Operations; Becoming a Better Administrator in 2013: 5 Steps to Improve Your Leadership; How ASCs Can Effectively Handle CMS Quality Reporting; 9 Tactics for Effective Hospital/ASC Joint Ventures; Publisher's Letter; Ideas to Achieve Positive Cash Flow at ASCs: Q&A With Andrew Schrage; 8 Inexpensive Ways for ASCs to Boot Patient Volume; 8 Steps to Quicker Turnover Times in ASCs; 5 Action Steps for In-Debt Surgery Centers; 5 Coding Tips for Spine Surgery at ASCs; 9 Tactics for Hospitals to Build Effective Surgery Center Joint Ventures; 5 Steps for Surgeons to Resolve Liability Insurance Before Employment Transition; 6 Important Points on Recovery Audit Contractors; 5 Steps to Better Patient Collections at Surgery Centers; 7 Priorities for ASCs and Anesthesiologists in 2013; 8 Steps to Implement a Successful Surgery Center Bonus Program; 4 Things to Know About Implementing LED Backlight Technology in the OR; 10 New Ophthalmology-Driven Surgery Centers; 25 Statistics on Ophthalmology Revenue & Charges in ASCs; 10 Top Patient Safety Issues for 2013. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Ways to Improve ASC Finances & Operations in 2013; 6 Ways to Dig Deeper Into ASC Financial Metrics; ASC Roundtable: What to Do in Markets With Heavy Hospital Employment; Publisher’s Letter; How Will Obama’s Re-Election Impact Healthcare? ASC Industry Leaders Respond; 10 Key Trends in Spine Surgery in 2013; 5 Key Items for 2013 ASC Strategic Plans; How Does Revenue Compare for 10 Surgery Center Specialties? 40 Statistics; 5 Key Trends for ASC Financing Opportunities; 8 Strategies for Surgery Centers to Stay Profitable & Accept Medicare; 50 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare; 70 of the Ambulatory Surgery Centers That Opened in the U.S. in 2012; 4 Factors Affecting ASC Valuation and Sales; 10 Characteristics That Increase Surgery Center Risk; Building a Spine Center: 5 Points From Dr. Richard Kube; 10 Revenue Cycle MistakesASCs Make — and How to Fix Them; Get Paid More for Ophthalmology Cases: 4 Tips for Surgery Centers; 5 Core Concepts to Drive Revenue at Ophthalmology ASCs; How to Fully Comply With Medicare Quality Reporting: 7 Points for ASCs; Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2012
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
433 People in the ASC Industry to Know; 10 Strategic Questions to Ask for Long-Term ASC Success; Will Medicare Every Reimburse ASCs for Spine Surgery? Q&A With Dr. Brian Gantwerker; Publisher's Letter; 8 Points of Survival for Surgery Centers After ACOs; Most Beneficial Payment Models for ASCs in the Future: Q&A With Lloyd Guthrie; 8 Steps to Promote Growth & Innovation at Surgery Centers; 8 Qualities of Forward-Thinking ASC Administrators; 6 Common Myths About Patient Financing in an ASC; 7 Tips for Bringing Spine Cases to an Ambulatory Surgery Center; How ASCs Can Become a Disruptive Force in the Healthcare Market: Q&A With Adam Powell of Payer+Provider Syndicate; Evolving Strategies for Surgery Centers to Reach Savvy Healthcare Consumers: Q&A With Dr. Arvind Movva, CEO of Regional SurgiCenter; 5 Steps for Surgery Center Leaders to Reverse Unhappy Surgeons Before It's Too Late; Lowering Physician & Operating Room Costs Per Case at Surgery Centers: Q&A With Michael Abrams of Numerof & Associates; 7 Revenue Cycle Best Practices for Surgery Centers; Timeline for the Transition to an EMR: During Integration (Part 2 of 3); 176 Physician Leaders in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Industry; Timeline for the Transition to an EMR: After Integration (Part 3 of 3); 5 Ways to Ensure a Healthy Hospital/Physician ASC Joint Venture Relationship; 5 Succession Planning Tips From Stateline Surgery Center; 10 Ways to Get Paid Appropriately From Commercial Payors in an ASC; 5 Tips for Collecting in Full From Out-of-Network Payors. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Hospital Ownership, Out-of-Network and Other Pressing ASC Issues: Q&A With Luke Lambert of ASCOA; Rising Stars: 32 ASC Industry Leaders Under 40; 12 Keys to Financial Success--Ambulatory Surgical Centers; Publisher's Letter: 6 Key Issues Facing Healthcare in the Second Half of 2012; Ambulatory Surgery Centers--11 Key Legal Risk Areas; 5 Qualities to Look for in a Surgery Center Third-Party Patient Financing Program; Leading a Surgery Center During a Time of Change: Q&A With John Wipfler and Linda Ruterbories of Orthopaedic Surgery Center; 10 Good Ideas to Grow Single-Specialty Surgery Center Case Volume; 12 Steps to More Robust Reimbursement in a Surgery Center; 7 Ways for Surgery Centers to Make More Money Now; 9 Points for ASCs on Achieving Financial Solvency; Navigating Regulations, Reimbursements and Growth: Q&A With Minnesota Valley Surgery Center Administrator Sharon Richomnd; 8 Steps to Build a Cash-Pay Program at Surgery Centers; How Do ASCs Increase Case Volume in the Current Healthcare Environment? Q&A With Jared Leger of Arise Healthcare; 6 Ways to Boost ASC Business by Saying 'Yes' to Surgeons; Where Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is Headed: Q&A With Dr. Frank Phillips of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush; 10 Tools to Bring to an 'Evidence-Based' ASC Payor Contract Negotiation; ASC Forensic Collections: Unearthing Hidden Treasures; 10 Top Reasons to Invest in a Surgery Center Now; 10 Steps to Modernize Surgery Centers With Interior Design; 5 Operating Agreement Considerations for ASCs Pursuing Joint Ventures With Hospitals; Is Out-of-Network Reimbursement Disappearing for ASCs? Q&A With John Bartos of Collect Rx; 6 Points on Medicare Reimbursement Trends in Surgery Centers; Are Bundled Payments Near for Surgery Centers? Q&A With Dr. Jason Hwang of Innosight Institute; 7 Core Concepts to Leverage ASC Data in Payor Negotiations; Biggest Factors in Surgery Center Supply Chain Management Today: Q&A With Lori Pilla of Amerinet; 8 Tactics to Bring Surgeons Onboard for Implant Standardization at Surgery Centers; FDA Proposes Medical Device Unique Device Identification System; 145 Great Women Leaders in the ASC Industry; 7 Steps to Kick-Start a Positive Surgery Center Culture; 5 Ways to Attract Superstar Surgeons to Your ASC; 9 Points on Recruiting New Physicians in Tough Markets; 15 Statistics on Physician Compensation for Key Surgery Center Specialists. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Publisher’s Letter; 5 Management Problems Plaguing Unprofitable Surgery Centers; 66 ASC Management & Development Company CEOs to Know; 6 Steps to Building a Bonus Program for ASC Administrators, Clinical Directors and Staff; 153 Orthopedic- and Spine-Driven ASCs to Know; 5 Steps for Optimizing Key ASC Benchmarks; 32 Statistics on Surgery Center Operating Expenses; 5 Factors That Attract Physician Investors to Surgery Centers; Why Are Your Physicians Taking Cases Elsewhere? 5 Signs of Disengagement; 6 Strategies for Seamless Surgery Center Expansion; Trending Toward Hospital Employment: Where Do Spine Surgeons Fit? Q&A With Dr. Robert Bray; 10 Steps to Increase the Value of a Surgery Center; 8 Steps to Maximize the Price of Your Surgery Center; Building a Physician-Hospital Joint Venture Overseas: 6 Points on Regent Surgical Health’s Irish Partnership; Health Inventures Expands Business With New Service Lines; 4 Options for Physician/Hospital Partnership: Thoughts From Dr. Chuck Peck of Health Inventures; 10 Statistics on the Ambulatory Surgery Center Industry; Expanding Health Inventures Past ASC Management & Development: Q&A With Senior Vice President Christian Ellison; 5 Tactics to Negotiate Better Reimbursement Rates for ASC Orthopedic Cases; Aetna Files $20M Lawsuit Against California ASC Company for Alleged Overbilling; Negotiating Reimbursement in Office-Based Surgery Centers: Q&A With Dr. Cory Lessner and Dr. Andrew Shatz; 5 Things to Know About Acquiring an O-Arm for Spine ASCs; 5 Ways an Inventory Management System Can Improve Efficiency in ASCs; 5 Issues in the CRNA Supervision Debate: Anesthesiologists Weigh In; OIG: Anesthesia Arrangements With ASCs Could Lead to Trouble; Operating a Surgery Center in a Saturated Market: Q&A With Lee Memorial’s Dave Cato. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Ways Physician Employment Affects Surgery Center Valuation; 100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare; 6 Situations Where Out-of-Network Reimbursement Still Works; Publisher's Letter: June 2012; 30 ASCs Performing More Than 10,000 Procedures a Year; 13 Essential ASC Benchmarks & How to Stay Ahead of the Curve; 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference; 5 Things to Know About Successful Spine Surgery Center Joint Ventures; 10 Reasons Physicians Take Cases Out of Surgery Centers; What Can Football Teach Us About Surgery Center Management?; 5 Observations on Physician Employment & Recruitment From Dr. Richard Kube; Dr. John Byers: 4 Priorities for ASC Physician Investors in 2012; 6 Ways to Keep Eligible Cases at Your ASC: Advice From Dr. Brad Lerner of Summit Ambulatory Surgery Centers; 8 Characteristics of Highly Successful Surgery Centers; 10 Steps to Improve ASC Profitability Through Benchmarking; 5 Strategies for Administrator Succession Planning From ASC Administrator Lori Martin; 30 New Statistics on Surgery Center Acquisition & Valuation; How the ASC Industry Can Succeed in the Future: Q&A With ASCOA CEO Luke Lambert; When Hospital Employed Physicians Own a Joint Venture ASC: 4 Points From Dr. Thomas Miller of Carilion Clinic Orthopaedics; 5 Mistakes Surgery Centers Make When Dealing With Payors; 5 Best Practices for Appointing an Infection Prevention Nurse at an ASC; Managed Care Contracting: Strategies for Success; 5 Strategies for Cutting Costs in an Out-of-Network Surgery Center; How to Collect More Often on Spine Cases; 8 Basic Steps for ICD-10 Implementation in Surgery Centers; ASC Administrator Connie Casey: 5 Fresh Ideas for Cutting Costs in 2012; 5 Strategies for Successful Orthopedic ASCs From ASC Administrator Karen Cannizzaro; 4 Simple Steps to Improved Supplier Contracting, Negotiations and Costs at Your ASC; 7 Best Practices for Driving Spine Center Profitability With Marketing; 5 Strategies for Physician Recruitment in Competitive Markets; Healthcare Reform’s Day in Court: 8 Experts Weigh In; 20 Statistics on Physician Compensation for 5 Key Surgery Center Specialties. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
What Surgery Centers Should Expect in 2012: 15 ASC Market Trends; 10 Metrics That Reveal a Surgery Center’s Financial Performance; 10 Steps to More Profitable Managed Care Contracts for ASCs; Publisher's Letter; 32 GI & Endoscopy-Driven Surgery Centers to Know; 7 Dos and Don’ts for Opening a New Surgery Center in Today’s Economy; 10 Steps to an Improved Hospital Joint Venture in 2012; Getting to 18,000 Cases a Year: 8 Steps to Increase and Accommodate Case Volume; 20 Statistics on Physician Specialties With the Most ASC Investors; 10 Evolving Issues for Hospitals, Health Systems, Physicians & ACOs; 6 Strategies to Recruit More Physicians to Your ASC; How to Increase Efficiency at an ASC: 5 Thoughts From Dr. Ricardo Borrego of Dearborn Surgery Center; 7 Steps to Double ASC Volume by Integrating Cases From a Closed Surgery Center; How Do ASC Management Companies Assess Value?; Starting From Scratch: Top 5 Tips on ASC Development From Manhattan Endoscopy Center; The Colon Cancer Screening Controversy: How Old is Too Old to Screen?; 15 New Statistics on GI/Endoscopy Revenue Per Case; Cigna to Terminate Contracts With New Jersey One-Room Surgery Centers; The Future of Out-of-Network Reimbursement: 4 Thoughts From Industry Experts; 13 FAQs About Surgery Center Insurance Coverage; 8 Basic Steps for ICD-10 Implementation in Surgery Centers; 12 Critical Concepts to Know About ASC Supplies and Contracts; 5 Future IT Needs for Surgery Centers; 8 Reasons for Surplus Surgical Supplies in Ambulatory Surgery Centers; 7 Serious Effects of Anesthesia Drug Shortages on Surgery Centers. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Predictions on ASC Merger & Acquisition Activity in 2012; 10 Top Concerns for Surgery Center Administrators in 2012; Looking Ahead: 6 Thoughts From Physicians on the Future of ASCs; 28 Pain Management-Driven ASCs to Know; Valuing an Out of Network Center in 2012: Thoughts From VMG Health's Kevin McDonough; Surviving on a High Percentage of Medicare: 8 Thoughts From Health Inventures' Dana Folstrom; What Percentage of Your Surgery Center Should You Sell?; Selling Your Surgery Center? Physicians Alliance Surgery Center's Journey to a "Very Attractive" Offer; How Hospital Employment Will Affect ASC Physicians in 2012; The Surgery Center Market: 5 Observations for 2012; 28 ASC Joint Ventures Planned or Developed in 2011; 5 Questions to Ask When Resyndicating Your Surgery Center; How to Use Technology to Improve ASC Efficiency: Q&A With Scott McDade of McKesson Medical Surgical; Trends & Developments Shaping IT in Surgery Centers: Q&A With Scott Palmer of SourceMedical; 5 Tips for Updating a GI Center's Technology; Automating Processes & Services in a Surgery Center: Q&A With Troy Clifton of Encircle Healthcare; When Does Surgery Center Case Volume Peak & Valley?: A Statistical Analysis of 9 Common Specialties; 11 Evolving Issues in Healthcare and Business; 5 Business Lessons for ASC Physicians; 30 New Statistics on Surgery Center Staff Compensation; 5 Trends Impacting Outpatient Spine in 2012: Thoughts From Dr. Thomas Schuler; 5 CON Conflicts Over Proposed Surgery Centers in 2011; 6 Points on Building an ASC Joint Venture With an Academic Medical Center; 5 Ways to Save Money at GI Driven Surgery Centers; Gastroenterology in 2012: Q&A With Dr. Glenn Littenberg of ASGE; Is Your Center Ready for Bariatric Patients? A Checklist From Drs. Scott Cunneen and Peter LePort; Improving ASC Billing and Collections: 5 Critical Steps to Take Now; 10 Frequently Asked Questions About ICD-10; 9 Supplies That Endanger Profitability for ASC Cases — and How To Reduce the Damage; 5 Changes for Outpatient Anesthesia in 2012: Thoughts From Dr. Gilbert Drozdow; 5 Essential Skills for Surgery Center Anesthesiologists From Dr. Thomas Wherry; 8 Steps to Increase Orthopedic Case Volume at an ASC. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Top Concerns for ASC Physicians; 12 Ways to Improve Physicians’ ASC Experience in 2012; 40 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare; Publisher's Letter; Achieving Record Profits Every Year During the Recession: 8 Steps From Gateway Surgery Center Administrator Craig Bryan; How Does Your Surgery Center Measure Up: Same Center Performance Trends; 10 Steps to Maintain Control of an ASC’s Central Supply Area; Average Revenue Per Case for Common ASC Specialties: 20 Benchmarking Statistics; 10 Trends in ASC Payor Reimbursement & Contracting for 2012; 7 Goals for ICD-10 Preparation for the Next Six Months; 350 People in the ASC Industry to Know; Lessons From 35 Years in the ASC Industry: Q&A With Cypress Surgery Center Cofounder and Administrator Judy Graham; 10 Steps to Add a Gastric Lap-Banding Service Line to a Surgery Center; 15 New Benchmarks on ASC Administrator Compensation; 10 Ways to Improve Profitability for Pain Management; 5 Points on Physician Involvement in the ASC Supply Chain; 10 Things to Expect From an ASC Anesthesia Provider; 10 Questions to Ask When Setting ASC Administrator Compensation; 7 Steps to Turn Quality Data Into a Useful, Compliant Improvement Study; 10 Ideas for ASC Quality Improvement Studies. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2011
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
14 Achievable Goals for ASCs By Year’s End; 10 Ways to Get Paid More for ASC Procedures; 150 Physician Leaders in the ASC Industry; Publisher's Letter; Best Practices for ASCs in a Bad Economy: Q&A with Mike Lipomi at Surgical Management Professionals; 6 Reasons Why Independent Hospitals and ASCs Face Similar Challenges on a Different Scale; Current and Future State of Pain Management: Q&A With Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians; Blue Shield of California Recommends Use of ASCs Over Hospitals; Adding a Total Joint Program to a Surgery Center: Q&A With John Brock of NorthStar Surgical Center; 10 Ways a Surgery Center’s Budget Can Go Awry; 50 Benchmarks on ASC Case Volume; Forming a Surgery Center State Association: Q&A With Todd Currier of Wyoming ASC Association; CMS Allows Unrestricted Same-Day Surgery for ASCs; How to Improve Patient, Physician and Employee Satisfaction at an ASC; 6 Thoughts on Private Equity Groups Investing in ASCs; FAQs About Outsourcing ASC Billing & Collections: Q&A With Caryl Serbin of SourceMedical; 20 Benchmarks for Large ASCs; 6 Steps to Build a Compensation Plan for ASC Employees; 125 of the Leading Gastroenterologists in America; Top 10 Gastroenterologic Procedures in Surgery Centers by Volume; Implementing an EHR at an ASC: 5 Thoughts From Robert Lamont of the Surgery Center of Central PA; 5 Ways ASCs Can Cut Costs; 10 Considerations for Providing Great Anesthesia in an ASC; Top 10 Compliance Findings Cited in Joint Commission Outpatient Surveys; 10 Steps to Hire an Outstanding Surgery Center Administrator. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
October Special Issue of Becker's ASC Review
30 Predictions on the Future of Ambulatory Surgery Centers; Will There Be Enough Physician-Investors in ASCs in the Future?; Finding the ‘New Spine’: 7 Procedures Moving Into the ASC Setting; 135 of the Leading Ophthalmologists in America; From Surgery Center Administrator to Executive: 4 Industry Leaders Discuss Their Transition; Top 10 Orthopedic Procedures in Surgery Centers by Volume; 100 Surgery Center Benchmarks; 10 Metrics for Measuring Physician Performance; 10 Key Financial Metrics to Measure in a Surgery Center; 50 Benchmarks of 5 Top ASC Specialties; 4 Things You Should Know About the ASC Quality and Access Act of 2011; 12 Important Questions to Ask Before Changing Anesthesia Care; 6 Ways to Ensure Clinical Quality While Switching Anesthesia Providers; 5 Traits to Look For in an Anesthesia Group; Adding a Total Joint Program to a Surgery Center: Q&A With John Brock of NorthStar Surgical Center; Future of the Freestanding Surgery Center: Q&A With Barry Tanner of Physicians Endoscopy; Top 5 Vulnerabilities of Surgery Centers in the Next Few Years; Who Can Pay More for a Surgery Center: Hospital or Management Company?; 9 Observations on the ASC Market; ASCs Take on Lap-Band Surgery, But Payors Still Have to Catch Up; Laparoscopic Bariatric Procedures Increased From 2003-2008; Debridement Most Confusing ICD-9-CM Subcategory Among Coders; Trends & Developments Shaping IT in Surgery Centers: Q&A With Scott Palmer of SourceMedical; 6 Out-of-the-Box Ideas to Cut Costs on Surgery Center Supplies; MDs, CRNAs and Care Teams: The Ins and Outs of 4 Anesthesia Care Models; New Regulations for Reporting Anesthesia Time Start Jan. 2012; What Management Companies Want: 10 Statistics on Surgery Center Owners and Operators. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
7 Predictions From ASC Physicians on the Future of Surgery Center Physician Ownership; Top Priorities of ASC Administrators: Thoughts From 10 Surgery Center Leaders; 125 Women to Know in the ASC Industry; Publisher’s Letter; 15 State of the ASC Industry and Ambulatory Surgery Center Association: Q&A with Bill Prentice of ASCA; 8 Ways to Make Yourself an Effective Administrator; 8 Procedure Types That Can Add Volume to Your ASC; 5 Steps to Build a More Successful Surgical Practice: Insight From Ophthalmologist Dr. Gary Foster; 10 Steps to Profitable and Successful ENT in Surgery Centers; Surgery Center Administrator Recruitment Checklist: 13 Questions to Ask Candidates; 10 Key Points to Consider When Selling Interest in an ASC; The Quiet Takeover: Insurers Buying Physicians and Hospitals; Current Trends in ASC Management Company Consolidation; Outsourcing Key Areas of Your Business Office: Q&A With Pinnacle III Executives; 6 Things to Know About Pharmaceuticals and Outsourcing Pharmaceutical Solutions; 5 Things to Know About Outsourcing Cataract Surgery in an ASC; Physicians Partnering With Hospitals on GI Centers: Q&A With Barry Tanner of Physicians Endoscopy; 10 Ways to Increase Surgery Center Patient Collections Immediately; 6 Tactics to Prepare for ICD-10; 5 Things Surgery Centers Need to Know About Meaningful Use and the 50% Rule; 6 Key Ways to Save on ASC Supplies; 6 Traits Anesthesiologists Look for in a Surgery Center; Rising Stars: 30 ASC Industry Leaders Under Age 40; Changing the Culture of an ASC: Q&A With Mike Lipomi of Surgical Management Professionals; Current State of Physician Recruitment: 6 Thoughts From USPI’s Phil Spencer; Turning the Medicaid Crisis Into an Opportunity for ASCs: Q&A With Rob Schwartz of the Colorado ASC Association. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
6 Best Specialties for Surgery Centers; 12 Major Issues Facing the Surgery Center Industry; 10 Top Priorities of Surgery Center Physicians; Publisher’s Letter; Future of Physician-Owned Facilities: Q&A With Dr. Jeff Hessing of Treasure Valley Hospital and SCA; 5 Trends Affecting the Future of Ophthalmology in Surgery Centers; 6 Ways an ASC Can Lose Physicians — and What to Do About it; 10 Proven Ways to Improve Surgery Center Efficiency; 5 Factors That Heavily Influence ASC Value; 7 Questions on Surgery Center Transactions and Valuation Issues: Q&A With Stephan Peron of VMG Health; 56 ASC Management & Development Company CEOs to Know; What Percentage of Orthopedic Surgeons Will be Employed in 5 Years? 10 Responses; 10 Strategies to Improve Endoscopy Center Operations; 10 Critical Social Media Guidelines for Surgery Center Physicians and Staff; Assembling a Robust Revenue Cycle Team: How to Hire and Retain Great Billers, Coders and Collectors; Staff Salaries in Surgery Centers: 50 Statistics to Know; Motivating Employees Through Effective Incentives: Q&A With Brian Brown of Meridian Surgical Partners; 5 Strategies to Make Successful Capital Acquisitions; 4 Tactics to Weather the Drug Shortage From Dr. John Dombrowski; 5 Reasons Why Surgeons Still Join Surgery Centers; 7 Points on How Surgery Centers Should Handle ACOs. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Surgery Center Specialties Predicted to Grow in 2011; 10 Proven Ways to Profit From Gastroenterology; What Should Your ASC Pay Its Employees?; Publisher’s Letter: 13 Key Legal Questions for Hospital-Physician Relationships; 6 Questions Being Asked by ASCs News/Analysis; 16 Characteristics of a Successful Physician/Hospital Joint-Venture ASC; 17 5 Key Legal Issues Affecting Surgery Center Joint Ventures; 6 Benefits for an ASC With a Hospital Partner; 5 Ways to Build a Great Hospital/ASC Joint Venture; 10 Traits of Highly Successful Surgery Center Administrators; 8 Observations on Current ASC Transaction and Valuation Trends; 100 Orthopedic- and Spine-Driven ASCs to Know; 5 Ways to Improve Anesthesia Quality in ASCs; 9 Key Legal Issues Facing Endoscopy Centers; Preparing Your ASC for ICD-10: 6 Initial Steps; Electronic Health Records: What Does it Mean and Do We Have to Go There?; 7 Best Practices for an Effective Malignant Hyperthermia Transfer Plan; 12 Critical Questions for Malignant Hyperthermia Preparation. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
50 Things to Know About the Proposed ACO Regulations; 6 Ambulatory Surgery Center Reimbursement Trends for 2011; 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare - 2011; Publisher’s Letter: May 2011; Physician-Owned Device Companies - A New Warning Bell is Rung; 9 Areas of Focus When Developing a New Surgery Center V2; 8 Issues When Converting Existing Space Into a Surgery Center; Actual vs. Rentable Surgery Center Space: Q&A With Richard T. Hardaway of Hardaway Associates; 6 Ways to Save Money on Supplies in a Surgery Center; What Can Surgery Center Physicians be Paid for Co-Management: Q&A With Jen Johnson of VMG Health; 100 of the Best Spine Surgeons and Specialists in America; 7 Critical Areas of Focus for a Successful Turnaround of a Physician/Hospital Joint-Venture ASC; 4 Ways to Ease the Transition to Hospital Ownership of a Surgery Center; 5 Steps Surgery Centers Should Take Before Selling to a Hospital; 70 of the Best Pain Management Physicians in America; 70 of the Best Knee Surgeons in America; 6 Strategies for Surgery Centers to Address Drug Shortages; 10 Considerations for Automated Endoscope Reprocessor Selection; 7 Strategies to Negotiate In-Network Carve-Outs for Outpatient Spine; 5 Ways Surgery Centers Can Maximize the Benefits of Their Membership With a GPO. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
6 Key Legal Issues Facing Ambulatory Surgery Centers; 7 Costs Your ASC Could Cut in 2011; 12 Recent Surgery Center Transactions; Publisher’s Letter: March; 7 Steps for ASCs to Take Before Partnering With a Hospital or Management Company; 3 Frequently Asked ASC Valuation Questions; 9 Biggest Issues for Orthopedic Surgeons in 2011; Spine Surgery in 2011 and Beyond: 7 Points About the Future of Spine Surgery; 5 Areas Profitable ASCs are Still Leaving Money on the Table; 5 More Physician Statistics ASCs Should Track and Benchmark; 8 Areas to Reinvest in an ASC; 4 Ways Surgeons Can Increase ASC Distributions; 4 Kinds of Physicians Who Have Not Yet Invested in an ASC; 12 Decisions That Can Cripple a Surgery Center; Money-Makers: 15 Statistics on Physician Compensation; ASCs Play an Important Role in ACOs; Outpatient Spine: 6 Big Questions; Are You an Excellent Employer?: Professional Employer Organizations for Your Healthcare Human Resource Functions; 4 Ways for ASCs to Provide Competitive Benefits; 5 Ways to Incent Good Behavior With Staff Bonuses; 10 Recent Findings on Anesthesia Quality Issues; 3 Ideas for Boosting GI Case Volume Through Marketing; ASC Best Practice: Communicate and Confirm Patient Financial Responsibility Prior to Day of Surgery; 10 Assertions Payors Make in ASC Contract Negotiations and How to Respond; California ASCs Face 20% Reduction in Workers’ Compensation Reimbursement; 10 Key ASC Managed Care Contract Provisions and Terms to Know; 17 Steps to Take When a Payor Changes Payment System From Medicare-Grouper to APC-Based; 8 Ways to Limit Vendor Reps’ Influence Over ASC Surgeons; 4 Biggest Opportunities in Spine Surgery — From Spine Surgeon Dr. Jay Khanna of Johns Hopkins; Physician/Hospital Contracting — A Compliance Approach: 11 Key Concepts; Interpreting the New Medicare Same-Day H&P Guidance for ASCs. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
February Special Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Key Trends for Surgery Centers in 2011; ASC Transactions and Pricing During 2010: 4 Key Concepts; 50 New ASCs Opened in 2010; Publisher's Letter: 15 Questions for 2011; 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference (June 9-11, Chicago) – 101 Sessions and 134 Speakers New Head of ASC Association William Prentice Shares Thoughts on the Industry; 5 Ways to Increase Surgery Center Distributions in 2011; MedPAC Calls for 0.5% Pay Rise, New Reporting for ASCs; 1 Percent Pay Hike for Physicians; NovaMed to Be Acquired by Surgery Partners, Go Private; Irving Place Capital to Acquire National Surgical Hospitals; 10 Factors Affecting an ASC's Sales Price; Analysis of ASC Data Suggests a Mature ASC Market; 8 Insights Into Successful Hospital-ASC Joint Ventures; 10 Things to Know About Co-Management Relationships in Conversions of ASCs to HOPDs; 8 Factors That Make Your ASC Risky for Buyers; 4 Mistakes That Cause Surgery Centers to Fail; Owning a Surgery Center: The Best Investment I Will Ever Make; CMS Adjusts 2011 Medicare Conversion Factor for Physician Fees; 3 Common Complaints From ASC Physicians — And How to Avoid Them; Surgery Center Benchmark for Waiting Room Times: Q&A With Ann Geier and Susan Kizirian of ASCOA; Nevada Surgery Centers See Nearly 300% Increase in Inspection Fees; 4 Ways Anesthesia Provision Will Change in the Next Five Years ; 5 Opportunities for Gastroenterologists in 2011; AMA Clarifies Fluoroscopy Coding Guidance; 5 Changes to CPT Codes in 2011; OIG Issues Report on Improper Billing of Surgery Center Services for Skilled Nursing Facility Stays; 4 Common Medicare Violations Found by Inspectors of Surgery Centers; Medicare Clarifies Same-Day History and Physical Guidance for Surgery Center; 5 Things Every ASC Should Do to Reduce Supply Costs. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Current Issues Affecting ASCs Nationwide; Outlook for ASCs in 2011; 75 of the Best Gastroenterologists in America; Publisher’s Letter: Healthcare in 2010; ASC Consolidation; 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference; Letter to the Publisher: Hospital Power to Fire a Doctor At-Will; 6 Things to Know About ASC Reprocessing; 5 Critical Steps in the Reprocessing of Single-Use Devices; Developing a Successful ASC Reprocessing Program; ASC Quality Collaboration Issues Free Single-Use Device Reprocessing Toolkit; Benchmarking Ambulatory Businesses; 5 Physician Statistics ASCs Should Track and Benchmark; 5 Achievable Goals for ASCs in 2011; 6 Common Complaints Physicians Have When Acquired by Hospitals; 56 ASC Management and Development Companies to Watch in 2011; 12 Anesthesia Processes to Track and Benchmark; 9 Key Considerations Regarding Healthcare Internal Investigations; 6 Things GI/Endoscopy-Driven ASCs Should Benchmark; 35 Statistics About GI/Endoscopy; 21 GI/Endoscopy-Driven ASCs to Know; ASC Managed Care Contracting Best Practices by Specialty; Guidance for Benchmarking Your ASC as Part of a Quality Improvement Program; 4 Target Areas for ASC Supply Chain Savings; 10 Proven Strategies to Successfully Reduce ASC Supply Costs; Section 179 Deduction for Businesses Increased to $500,000. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2010
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
18 Top ASC Stories for 2010 — A Look at the Biggest Issues Shaping the Industry; 10 Statistics From the ASC Association's 2010 ASC Employee Salary & Benefits Survey; CMS Issues Stark Act Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol — 9 Key Concepts; Publisher’s Letter: November/December 2010; Illinois Court Orders Blue Cross to Pay Almost $3M to Surgery Center in Out-of-Network Case; 106 Physician Leaders in the ASC Industry; 3 Most Important ASC Specialties Resisting the Trend of Movement to Employment by Hospitals: A Quick Look at Orthopedics, Ophthalmology and Gastroenterology; 12 Sound ASC Financial Practices; Distribution of Facility Profits to Owners & Should Same Corporation Own ASC and Practice: Q&A With Scott Becker; Critical ASC Mistake: Accepting Highest Bidder but Not Best Long-Term Partner; 10 Ways to Improve Anesthesia in Your ASC; Impact of November Elections on ASCs: Q&A With Andrew Hayek of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee; 6 Ways Healthcare Reform and ARRA Will Impact Gastroenterology; ASC GI $100,000 Question: Are You Billing for Second Maneuvers?; 7 Ways to Ensure Payment Without Damaging Patient Relationships; Truth Behind A/R Days: Why It’s the Most Important ASC Business Statistic and Why Most ASCs Have it Wrong; What to Audit When You Audit Your ASC’s Billing Process; 8 Ways ACOs Could Impact Surgery Centers With Healthcare Futurist Joe Flower; 5 Strategies for Saving Your ASC Money by Streamlining Equipment Costs; 8 Ways to Save More Money on ASC Supplies; ASC Accreditation, Licensure & Medicare Certification. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
5 Financial Implications Healthcare Reform Will Have on ASCs; 6 Key Issues and Trends Impacting Outpatient Services and Physician-Owned Facilities; CMS Releases 2011 ASC Proposed Rule: 7 Important Issues; Publisher’s Letter; 12 Ways to Maximize Profits at Your ASC; Spine and Sports Medicine Surgeons Top List of Highest Paid Orthopedic Specialties; Growing Your ASC, the Path of Least Resistance: Top 4 Easiest Specialties to Transition Into an ASC; 10 Best Practices for Recruiting New Partners to Your ASC; Access to Physicians: 3 Major Challenges Facing ASCs; 5 Ways ASCs Lose Money; 5 Observations on the Future of ASCs From Dr. Neal Lintecum of Kansas’ Lawrence Surgery Center; 7 Observations on ASC-Based EMR; Using Inventory Management and Technology to Increase Profits; Reducing ASC Chronic Technology Pain: 3 Rules to Contain IT Costs; 8 Tips for Managing Medical Equipment Software Updates and Upgrades; 107 Great Women Leaders in the ASC Industry; New Jersey Regulators Approve Penalties for PIP Patients Using OON Centers; ICD-10 Implementation for ASCs: What You Must Do Now; 10 Steps for ASCs to Collect Full Payment After the Procedure is Performed; 3 Successful Managed Care Contract Negotiation Tactics (and One to Avoid); 3 Critical Mistakes Made When Reporting Modifier -59; 3 Surprising Factors That Impact an ASC’s Value; Is the Independent Practice of Medicine Going the Way of the Dinosaur?; 5 Most Attractive ASC Specialties; Using New Processes and Technologies to Maximize ASC Patient Collections; Anesthesia Models Under Attack; 5 Observations on Anesthesia in ASCs From Syed Ishaq of Somnia Anesthesia; 4 Ways ASCs Can Improve Relationships Between Surgeons and Anesthesiologists; Impact of the Propofol Shortage on Anesthesiologists; 8 Ways GI Centers Can Prosper in the Next Five Years; 5 Statistics About Gastroenterologist Compensation by Years of Experience; 4 Tips for Preventing Infection in Your ASC; Meeting AAAHC Standards for Reprocessing Single-Use Devices and Equipment; Air Change Requirements in Ambulatory Surgical Facility Operating Rooms. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July Issue of Becker's ASC Review
7 Considerations For An Out-of-Network Surgery Center Moving In-Network; Call Coverage Payments: Trends, Regulations, Statistics and Valuation Considerations; The ‘Co-Managed’ Hospital-Owned ASC: An Alternative Partnership Model; Publisher’s Letter: July 2010; 8 Statistics About Orthopedic Surgeon Compensation; 8 Statistics About Ophthalmologist Compensation; 6 Statistics About Gastroenterologist Compensation; 8 Statistics About Urologist Compensation; 15 Statistics About General Surgeons’ Compensation; 15 Statistics About Anesthesiologist Compensation; 3 Key Factors Affecting ASC Administrator Compensation; 5 Ways to Reduce Costs and Bring New Business to a Surgery Center; 5 ASC Practices That Can Yield Big Financial Benefits; Health Reform’s Impact on ASCs: Commentary From Marian Lowe of ASCAC; 49 ASC Management & Development Company CEOs to Know; 6 Physician Risk Factors That Impact an ASC’s Value; 4 Current Trends Driving the Value of ASCs; 4 Facility Risk Factors That Impact an ASC’s Value; Michelle Steele of Eastside Endoscopy Shares Advice for GI ASC Administrators; 3 Tips for Coding Orthopedics Procedures in Surgery Centers; 6 Areas of Focus for Collecting Full Payment: Critical Steps to Take Prior to Billing; Are Hidden Costs Hurting You? A Regional Anesthesia Approach to Reduce Complications and Cost at ASCs. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
June Special Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Key Legal Issues Facing Ambulatory Surgery Centers; 13 Major Changes Facing ASCs; A Review of OIG Self Referral and Antikickback Cases: 5 Categories of Non-compliant Physician Relationships and 8 Recent Cases; Publisher’s Letter: June 2010; Is the AMA the Worst Trade Association Ever?; 4 Initiatives That Doubled Physician Distributions; 72-Hour Recovery Center Greatly Expands the Scope of an ASC; ASC Sees Annual Returns of 300% and 750%: Q&A With Dr. Joseph Stapleton; ASC Association President Kathy Bryant Discusses Healthcare Reform’s Impact on ASCs; 7 Statistics ASCs Should Look at Every Month; Co-Management Relationships of HOPDs: 5 Things Your ASC and Hospital Should Consider Plus Legal Commentary and Key Concerns; 4 Ways to Ensure Profitability When Adding Procedures; The “Co-Managed” Hospital-Owned ASC: An Alternative Partnership Model; 5 Tips to Increasing ASC Value Before A Sale; 6 Key Practices for Growing Volume and Profits; 3 Common ASC Physician Recruitment Mistakes. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 of the Best Paying ASC Procedures; The Buying and Selling of Ambulatory Surgery Centers - A Review of Pricing By Tier in the Current Market – Updated for 2010; 20 Orthopedic and Spine-Driven ASCs to Know; Publisher’s Letter: May/June 2010; Healthcare Reform: A Brief Analysis on How it Impacts ASCs and Physician-Owned Hospitals — 10 Observations; Will the Physician-Owned Surgery Center Remain a Viable Business Model: Q & A With Healthcare Futurist Joe Flower; Becker's ASC Review/Becker's Hospital Review Names 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare; 8 Best Practices for a Profitable ASC Orthopedic Service Line; 9 Reimbursement and Business Concepts for Orthopedics in ASCs; 6 Reimbursement and Business Concepts for Spine in ASCs; 50 Great ASC Administrators to Know; 5 Steps to Creating a Balanced Pain Management Surgery Center; What Health Reform Will Mean for Physicians and Hospitals; National Medical Billing Services Encourages Growth, Teamwork Among Staff; Regent Surgical Health’s RISE System Fosters Values-Based Achievement; Q & A: Reimbursement and Volume Impacts of Moving From Out-of-Network to In-Network. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
20 Things to Know About Gastroenterology in ASCs; 5 Tips for Growing Volume From David Daniel, CEO of Lakeland Surgical & Diagnostic Center; 11 Things to Know About the False Claims Act; Publisher’s Letter: March/April 2010; 5 Biggest Issues Facing Gastroenterologists Today; 6 Statistics About Ophthalmologist Compensation; 6 Statistics About Gastroenterologist Compensation; Growing Your ASC: Q&A With Robert Zasa of ASD Management; 22 GI/Endoscopy Statistics for Surgery Centers; Most Profitable Specialties for ASCs With Brian Mathis of Surgical Care Affiliates; 2010 CPT Coding Changes Analysis for Gastrointestinal Services in ASCs; 5 Predictions for ASCs in 2010; 10 Ophthalmology-Driven ASCs to Know; 28 of the Best Gastroenterologists in America; 7 Trends and Opportunities for Ophthalmology in Surgery Centers; 10 Statistics and Facts About Ophthalmology and Ophthalmologists; Drive ASC Denials Down to Reduce Costs and Drive Revenue Up; 8 Statistics on Registered Nurse Compensation. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
21 Ways to Make and Save Money in Surgery Centers; Top 8 Surgery Center Stories of 2009; 23 Things to Know About Anesthesia and Anesthesia in ASCs; Publisher’s Letter; 4 Top Issues Facing ASC and Hospital Valuation; Free Becker’s Healthcare Alert Sends Breaking Healthcare Business and Legal News to Your Inbox Daily; 6 ASC Turnarounds; Tag Team Recruitment — 6 Steps to Drive Profitably: A Success Story From Melville, N.Y.; 8 Statistics About Anesthesiologist Compensation; Extreme Makeover: ASC Turnarounds; 2010 CPT Changes for Paravertebral Facet Joint Injections & Guidance; 2009 Physician Hospital Valuation Survey; Becker’s ASC Review, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review Announce 8th Annual Conference on Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASCs: Improving Profitability and Business and Legal Issues; 5 Best Specialties for ASCs Now; 17 Great ASCs to Work For. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC Physician-Owners Share 5 Top Concerns for 2010; 12 Best Practices, Lessons Learned and Goals for Spine Surgery ASCs, 53 ASC Management and Development Companies to Watch in 2010, Publisher’s Letter, 10 ASCs That Opened in 2009, 8 Best Practices for a Profitable ASC Orthopedic Service Line, 19 Statistics About Orthopedics in Surgery Centers, 10 Pain Management Statistics for Surgery Centers, Average ASC Facility Expenses By Region, Several Perspectives on Healthcare Reform, 4 Quick Stats About Orthopedic Surgery, Attorney Representing New Jersey ASC in Landmark Victory for Surgery Center Industry Discusses Garcia v. Health Net, Continued Challenges for N.J. ASCs, 8 Best Practices for Establishing and Improving Pain Management in Your ASC, Average Surgery Center Debt/Leverage Ratios by Total Annual Revenue, CMS Releases Final Rule For 2010 ASC Payment Rates, Spine Surgeon Robert Bray Predicts a Major Shift of Volume into ASCs, Overcoming a Crisis at Your ASC: 3 Scenarios. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2009
November Issue of Becker's ASC Review
10 Steps to Increase the Life Span of a Surgery Center; 10 ASC Salary Statistics From the ASC Association 2009 ASC Employee Salary & Benefits Survey; 47 Concepts to Consider for ASCs; Publisher's Letter; 16 Coding, Billing and Collections Best Practices; 10 Observations About Anesthesiologists From Incoming ASA President Dr. Alexander A. Hannenberg; Operating Expense Analysis Per Case for Surgery Centers by Total Case Volume; 10 ASCs Performing More Than 10,000 Procedures Annually; 5 Anti-kickback Cases Making Headlines; 15 Great Single-Specialty ASCs; Overcoming 3 ASC Crisis Scenarios; Gastroenterology in ASCs: 10 Fast Facts; 3 Things Wrong With the AMA’s Support of the President’s Healthcare Reform Plan; ASC Financing: Sound Strategies & Proven Tactics; 10 ASC Revenue Cycle Sticking Points; Average Surgery Center Staff Hours Per Case; Co-Founder of Successful Oklahoma Surgery Center Shares Advice for Growing Your ASC; Case Revenue Statistics for 11 Surgical Specialties; 6 Toyota Production System Concepts to Improve ASC Efficiency. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Concerns Raised on the Valuation of Surgery Centers; 5 Best Practices for Increasing Volume Through Cultivating Relationships; 66 Women to Know in the ASC Industry; Publisher’s Letter; 10 Steps to Improving ASC Profitability With Dr. Brent Lambert of ASCOA; 10 Lessons Learned From Turnarounds; ASC Leaders Share Advice and Experiences About 5 Critical Management Issues; How Much Should a Surgery Center Administrator Be Paid?; Statistics on ASC Staff Salaries; 12 Critical Areas of Focus to Increase Your ASC’s Reimbursement; 4 Critical Components of Implementing an Effective Patient Survey Model; Developing a Bariatrics Program in an ASC; 8 Statistics About Surgery Center Operating Expenses Per Case. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Out-of-Network Payment Squeeze: 4 ASC Trends and Challenges; Healthcare Reform: An Overview of Key Concepts; 72 Physician Leaders in the ASC Industry; Publisher’s Letter; 50 ASC Administrators to Know; CEO Spotlight: Q&A With Jane Keller of Indiana Orthopedic Hospital; Compliance Guidelines Related to Selling Units in an ASC to Physician Investors; Anesthesiologist Involvement in an ASC: Q&A With Howard Balkenbusch of Associated Anesthesiologists of Fort Wayne; Anesthesiologist Dr. Sterling Wood Discusses Anesthesia Challenges and Opportunities for ASCs; 8 Statistics About Operating Expenses as a Percent of a Surgery Center’s Total Net Revenue; Overcoming the Anesthesia Provider Shortage: Q&A With Marc Koch of Somnia Anesthesia; 10 Steps to Prepare for and Respond to Anesthesia Subsidy Requests; Value of Single-Specialty Surgery Centers: Q&A With Richard Jacques of Covenant Surgical Partners. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July/August Issue of Becker's ASC Review
170 People to Know in the ASC Industry; Core Trends in ASCs - 14 Observations; Kathy Bryant of the ASC Association Discusses Critical Regulatory Issues; Publisher’s Letter; 5 Urology-Driven ASCs to Know; 6 Urology Procedures ASCs Should Perform to Maximize Profits; 22 Facts About Urology in Surgery Centers; 10 Managed Care Best Practices for Urology; 5 ENT-Driven ASCs to Know; 4 ENT Procedures ASCs Should Perform to Maximize Profits; 10 Statistics About ENT in Surgery Centers; 6 Challenges Facing Ophthalmology in Surgery Centers and the Best Ways to Overcome Them; 5 Ophthalmology-Driven ASCs to Know; Opportunities for Growth in Ophthalmology Through Efficiency and Added Services; Are You Billing for your PC/AC IOL Cataract Cases Correctly?; ASC CEO Discusses Surgery Center Benefits as Guest Columnist; 10 Statistics About the Earnings and Growth of Registered Nurses; Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti Discusses Current Trends in Interventional Pain Management; 10 Statistics About Surgery Centers With More Than 50% Orthopedics; 4 Things to Know About Bundled Pricing by ASCs; Impact of the Recession on ASCs: Q & A with Mike Lipomi of RMC MedStone Capital. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
Special June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
17 Key Legal Issues of 2009; ASC Lawyers Discuss Current Critical Legal Issues Facing Surgery Centers; Mandatory Disclosure of Physician Ownership in ASCs Required by the Medicare Conditions for Coverage; Publisher’s Letter; Checklist for the Changes in the ASC Medicare Conditions for Coverage; Conditions for Coverage Crosswalk; The ASC Association: The Last 10 Years; 15 Medicare/Medicaid Anti-Kickback and Fraud and Abuse Statute Cases Making Headlines in 2009; A Practical Compliance Plan Approach for ASCs; HHS’ Inspector General Issues Advisory Opinion on Physician On-Call Coverage; Bart Walker of McGuireWoods Discusses 6 Issues Affecting Loan Closing Costs; Protecting Your Facility and Physicians From Medicare Fraud Investigations: Q & A With Tom Pliura; 11 Key Concepts From the Stark Law; Will the Federal Government Shut Down Surgery Centers and Physician-Owned Hospitals; Do Non-Procedural Sources of Income Apply to the One-Third Rule? Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Which ASC Model is Best- Equipped to Deliver Spine Surgery: Multi- Specialty or Spine-Focused; 3 Core Models for Delivering Anesthesia Services — Trends, Legal Issues and Observations; 28 Interesting Facts About Orthopedics in Surgery Centers and Orthopedic Surgeons; Publisher’s Letter: ASCs in 2009: 14 Quick Observations; Improving ASC Profitability in a Down Economy; 31 Spine Surgeons; 9 Surgical Equipment Products for ASC Spinal Procedures; 5 Best Practices to Help Address Increasing Patient Out-of-Pocket Expenses; 13 Orthopedic- and Spine-Driven ASCs; 10 Great Knee Specialists; 5 Challenges Facing Orthopedics in Surgery Centers and Best Practices to Overcome Them;4 Great Growth Opportunities for Orthopedics in Surgery Centers; 5 Best Practices for Improved Coding of Orthopedic and Spinal Procedures; Adopting Bylaws That Address Disruptive Physicians: Q & A with Tom Stallings of McGuireWoods; 10 Interesting Statistics and Facts About Pain Management in Surgery Centers; Growing Pain Management Through Diversification, Expansion and Marketing; 6 Best Practices for Maximizing Efficiency in Pain Management; Industry Leaders Share Insight on ASCs in the Current Economy; Practical Guidance to Help You Understand and Plan for On-Call Coverage Payments; Establishing an Ambulatory Surgery Center — A Primer From A to Z (Part 2). Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Issue of Becker's ASC Review
11 Key Concepts From Stark Law; 44 ASC Management and Development Company CEOs to Know; 10 Best Practices for Improving GI-Efficiency in ASCs; Publisher’s Letter: Consolidations Increasing - Buyouts Stagnant; 7 Key Legal Areas for 2009; ASC Communications and the ASC Association June Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management Driven ASC Conference – June 11-13, Chicago Michigan Avenue - $200/$100 Discounts on Registrations Available; 9 Best Practices for Successful Physician/ Hospital Joint-Venture ASCs; Case Study: Successful Joint-Venture Turnaround; 23 Gastroenterologists to Know; 4 Key GI Trends in 2009; 25 Interesting Statistics About Gastroenterology in Surgery Centers; 10 GI and Endoscopy Managed Care Best Practices; 5 Common GI/Endoscopy Coding and Billing Mistakes; 14 GI-Driven ASCs to Know; 8 Devices and Products GI-Driven ASCs Should Know; Should You Sell Your ASC: Assessing Your Value and the Pros and Cons; Establishing an Ambulatory Surgery Center — A Primer From A to Z (Part 1); Industry Leaders Discuss Top Trends in ASC Startups. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
Special February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ASC Transactions-An Overview and Primer of Key Issues; Evolution of ASC Ownership Models – Independent, Minority Partnership and Majority Partnership; Publisher's Letter: Healthcare Reform; Uninsured Coverage; Obama's Appointments; ASC Transactions; Results of 2009 HealthCare Appraisers Surgery Center Valuation Survey; Buyers More Prudent in ASC Acquisitions, But Pricing Remains High for the Right Opportunity; Determining the Value of a Medical Practice; 11 Ways to Improve Efficiency, Quality and Profitability in Ophthalmology; 3 Eye Surgical Machines ASC Ophthalmologists Recommend; 10 Interesting Stats About Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery in ASCs; 5 Major Trends Impacting the ASC Marketplace in 2009; Growth of ASCs Outpace Number of Available ASC Physician-Owners; 6 Factors Contributing to Increase in ASC Mergers and Acquisitions; 3 Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions in the ASC Sector. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
January/February Issue of Becker's ASC Review
50 Management and Development Companies to Watch for 2009; Will the Federal Government Shut Down Surgery Centers and Physician-Owned Hospitals?; Letter From the Editor: Recapping 2008, Looking Ahead to 2009; 17 Great ASCs to Work For; Larry Taylor of Practice Partners Discusses 3 Trends for Surgery Centers in 2009; 10 Steps to Prepare for and Respond to Anesthesia Subsidy Requests; 6 Critical Anesthesia Protocols and Procedures to Improve Efficiency; 5 Current Challenges in Ambulatory Anesthesia; 5 Things to Know About Gynecology in ASCs; CMS Establishes New ASC Conditions of Coverage; Update on Weight-Loss Surgery: 3 Current Trends; Turnaround Case Study: Minor Issue or Fatal Flaw?; Capture Your Partners’ Cases: The Carrot & Stick; Accounts Receivable Analysis for ASCs by Revenues From the VMG Health 2008 Intellimarker; 4 Critical Concepts From the Latest Stark Act Regulations; Rob Carrera of Pinnacle III Discusses 3 Trends for Surgery Centers in 2009; 10 Managed Care Best Practices for Bariatrics, General Surgery and Gynecology; Peer Review Q&A With Sarah Martin; 4 Observations on Orthopedic and Spine Devices and Equipment; 3 Ways to Get the Most Out of Generation Y; OIG Blasts CMS on HIPAA Security Gaps; Guidance for ASC Compliance; Election 2008: 5 Quick Observations; 10 Interesting Facts About Surgery Center Chains; 6 Best Practices for Proper Disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste; General Surgery Coding Guidance for 2009 Additions and Revisions. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
2008
November/December Issue of Becker's ASC Review
17 Statistics an ASC Should Look at Every Month; 39 ASC Women Leaders to Know; Benchmarking, Healthcare Information Technology and the Changing Nature of ASCs; 10 Legal Issues Facing ASCs; The Elements of an ASC Turnaround; 6 Ways to Increase GI Profitability; 4 Best Practices for the Correct Coding and Billing of GI Procedures; Extending ASC Lifespans: 4 Rules of Thumb for Mature Centers; 7 Great ASC Turnarounds; 5 Tips for FESS Coding; 9 Best Practices to Grow and Distinguish ENT in Your ASC; 5 Trends, Developments and Challenges Affecting ENT; 5 ASC IT Leaders to Know; Effective Use of Information Technology to Optimize Financial Performance; 12 IT Companies to Know; 5 Things You Should Know About EMR in ASCs; Kathy Bryant's Year in Review; 4 Steps to Bring an ASC to 100 Percent Capacity; 11 Leaks to Plug in Your Billing Department to Ensure Total Reimbursement; Use These 10 Benchmarks and 10 Best Practices to Improve Your Billing and Collections Efficiency. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Surgeons' Wish List Is Simple: Convenience, Efficiency, Ease of Practice; 41 Things You Should Know About ASCs; 5 Legal Developments; 27 Tips to Get Paid Fairly By Medicare and Third-Party Payors; 40 Physicians to Know; Letter to the Editor: Doc-Owned Facilities Aren't the Bad Guys; Office of Inspector General Issues Advisory Opinion — Physician/ Hospital Joint-Venture; 10 Things You Should Know About Construction; Lessons from 3 Construction Projects; Cost to Build: Sample 2-OR ASC; Four Current Issues in Real Estate Development; Lease Vs. Own: Cost Estimate Sample for 2-Surgery-Suite ASC Development; The Future of Spine: Freestanding Spine Centers; Cost of Doing Orthopedic Surgery. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
July/August Becker's ASC Review
Meeting the Current Business Challenges in Ophthalmology; Merging Two Centers - Can it Solve Certain Problems?; Expert Guidance to Help You Capitalize on New Urology Opportunities ; Should You Add These Complex Urology Procedures?; Prostate Brachytherapy: 2008 ASC Coding Changes; Four Steps to Profitable Retina in the ASC; Per Click and Ophthalmologist - Vendor Payment Arrangements; 12 Reasons to Consider Cataract Outsourcing Services as an Option for Providing Cataract Surgery; 127 People to Know in the ASC Industry; Benchmarking Statistics: Gross Charges and Net Revenue Per Case for ENT, Ophthalmology and Urology ; Five Current Business and Clinical Issues for ENT in ASCs; Follow Example Operative Note to Help Code Common ENT Procedure Correctly; Recent Attacks on Out-of-Network Practices Highlight the Need for Careful Assessment of Efforts; 4 Case Studies: How You Can Use Benchmarking to Improve Practice; What's New for Ophthalmology Surgery; 3 Urology Products to Know; 5 Products for ENT Surgery; Q&A With Joint Commission's Michael Kulczycki. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
May/June Becker's ASC Review
6 Considerations for Successful Outpatient Knee Replacement; Reimbursement, Profit and Patient-Selection Issues -- Spine and Orthopedic Cases; Physician/Hospital Joint-Ventures -- Incentives and Ownership for Hospital-Employed Physicians and for Primary Care Physicians; Regional Anesthesia: Benefits and Implementation in Your ASC; 10 Medication Management Ideas for Anesthesiology Services; 3 Hot Spine Device Trends; At a Glance: Anesthesia Products and Services; 10 Valuation Facts and Statistics for ASCs; Key Clinical and Business Developments in ASC Anesthesia; 7 Keys to Successfully Launching a Spine Program in the ASC; USP 797 and Its Effect on ASCs; Four Steps to Prepare for Malignant Hyperthermia; Five Practical Tips to Becoming a Top Spine and Orthopedic Hospital -- A Discussion With a Top-Rated Neurosurgical Hospital; The Ins and Outs of Outsourcing Implants; 7 Orthopedic Surgical Devices to Know; Sleep Apnea Screening for ASCs; New Financing Opportunities for Common ASC Challenges; Three Trends in the Implantable Device Industry; Tips to Tackle Four Common Orthopedic Coding Challenges; 7 Accounting Tips to Help Your Practice Be More Efficient. Click here to view the featured stories and download a pdf of the issue
March/April Becker's ASC Review
Hospital-Physician Joint-Ventures: Current Tips for Success; Four Tips for Profitable Endoscopy in ASCs; Trends, Developments and Legal Issues in the Orthopedic and Spine Device Markets; 3 Best Practices for Better Outpatient Anesthesia; Four Cornerstones to Strategic Planning for Ambulatory Surgery Centers; Establishing an Ambulatory Surgery Center — A Primer from A to Z; Spotlight On: A Better Way to Collect Fees, Click here to view the pdf
Jan./Feb. Becker's ASC Review
Components of a Successful Weight-Loss Surgery Program in the ASC; 40 Companies to Watch in 2008; Orthopedic & Spine Medical Device Market Letter; 17 Red Flags of HIPAA Security in ASCs; Four Ways to Expand Your ASC's Business Reach; Spotlight On: Selling the Real Estate to Enhance the Surgery Business, Click to view the pdf
2007
Nov./Dec. Becker's ASC Review
Healthcare Information Technology: 8 Key Benefits; ASC Case Studies: Different Approaches Can Help Facilities Find Turnaround Success; CMS Issues New Conditions of Coverage for Ambulatory Surgical Centers; Your Questions Answered; Sample Code of Conduct for ASCs; Physician-Hospital Joint-Ventures: An Outline of Arrangements; Six Core Investing Concepts; Spotlight On: Coding, Billing and the New Medicare Payment System, Click to view the pdf
Sept./Oct. Becker's ASC Review
Establishing an ASC -- The Building Blocks for Success; CMS Issues a Revised Proposed Payment System for Services Provided in Ambulatory Surgery Centers; ASC Development: Success in the "Red Zone"; Under Arrangements Model Joint-Ventures: The End May Be Near; Amending an Operating Agreement: Avoiding Controversy and Litigation; Utilize Cost-Saving Devices to Economize on Supply Expenses; Spotlight On: Design-Build Construction, Click to view the pdf
July/Aug. Becker's ASC Review
Ambulatory Surgical Centers -- An Analysis for the Next Five Years; Sixty-Three People to Know in the Ambulatory Surgical Center Industry; SpineMark Corporation Makes its Mark in the Evolving Spine Industry; Good Hiring Practices Help ASCs Meet Critical Staffing Challenges., Click to view the pdf
May/June Becker's ASC Review
Building and Operating a Surgery Center: 11 Critical Mistakes; Experts Weigh In on the Key Elements and Challenges to Overcome in Developing a Successful Spine/Ortho Program; 9 Things to Know About Imagine and Radiation Therapy; Ask the Expert; Quality Imaging Services: Essential for Ortho-Pain-Spine Programs; Using Technology: Automate Your Workflow to Cut Costs; Are You Making the Best Use of Your Invested Capital?; Physician Disclosure of Ownership, Click to view the pdf
March/April Becker's ASC Review
Five Key Issues Facing Ambulatory Surgery Centers; ASC Experts See Opportunities and Hurdles in 2007; Evaluating Opportunities in Outpatient Surgery Centers: Using Benchmarking Data to Ensure Success, Click to view the pdf
Jan./Feb. Becker's ASC Review
Improving Your ASC's Billing and Collections — Five Important (and Sometimes Urgent) Areas to Address; 38 Companies to Watch for 2007; Suffering From Success: ASC Buy-in Issues and Fair Market Value; The 5 Cardinal Sins of New Development; The Return of Problematic Leases, Click to view the pdf
2006
Nov./Dec. Becker's ASC Review
I Heard I Was in Town — Measuring ASC Staffing Costs; 33 Things You Should Know About Ambulatory Surgery Centers; Five Signs You're in Need of Outside Intervention: ASCOA's Perspective; An ASC in Need of Drastic Improvement — 26 Questions You Should Ask; How to Keep Results Up and Sustainable; Five Signs You're in Need of Outside Intervention: Regent Surgical Health's Perspective; Staffing a Turnaround Center, Click to view the pdf
Sept./Oct. Becker's ASC Review
Seven Tricks of the Trade in Establishing an ASC; Developing an Ambulatory Surgery Center: Understanding the Key Legal Issues and the Essential Elements of an ASC Operating Agreement; An ASC Development — The Chief Financial Officer's Perspective; Ask the Expert, Click to view the pdf
July/Aug. Becker's ASC Review
Hospital Tactics — "Friendly" and "Not-So-Friendly" Competition; 50 People to Know in the Ambulatory Surgical Center Industry; Unlocking Value in Your ASC; Question and Answer, Click to view the pdf
May/June Becker's ASC Review
Pricing for Redemption — Two Key Options; Selling an Ambulatory Surgery Center; Changes to Reimbursement for Imaging Services Under the Deficit Reduction Act; HR Administrative Service Providers Can Enhance the Efficiency of an ASC; Six Steps That Can Help Boost Profits at a Struggling ASC, Click to view the pdf
March/April Becker's ASC Review
Ten Core Concepts to Consider — Rules for Block Leasing of MRI and Imaging Services, Essential Elements of an Operating Agreement, Click to view the pdf
Jan./Feb. Becker's ASC Review
Nine Trends To Consider For 2006, Compliance Guidelines Related To Solicitating Physician Investors, Focused Community Hospitals—A Health care model for the new century, Click to view the pdf
2005
May Becker's ASC Review
Selling an ASC, ASCs - Orthopedics; Neurosurgery and Pain Management Driven ASC Conference, Anti-Kickback Statute - Sale of Shares in an Ambulatory Surgical Center, ASCs - Key Risks, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
March Becker's ASC Review
Provider-Based Joint Ventures - Fair Game or Gaming the System?, EASC Development: Steps to Success, Professional Courtesy at a Surgery Glance, ASCs Buying Pathology Services, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
Jan. Becker's ASC Review
Ownership and Referral Patterns, Twenty-Four Companies to Watch: 2005 and 2006, The Anatomy of a "Do Over", Click to view the pdf (low-res)
2004
June Becker's ASC Review
ASC Safe Harbors - The Current Issues, EASC Trends, Fast Facts About Endoscopy Driven ASCs, Adding a Corporate Partner: Pros and Cons, Click to view the pdf
March Becker's ASC Review
Physician-Hospital Joint Ventures - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Hospital Conflict of Interest Policies/Economic Credentialing, Click to view the pdf
Jan. Becker's ASC Review
Restructuring of Surgery Centers, Twenty to Watch, Surgical Hospitals, 10th Annual Surgery Center Conference, Click to view the pdf
2003
June Becker's ASC Review
An Orthopedic ASC - Advisory Opinion 03-2, Management Companies, Benchmarking Ambulatory Businesses, Riskier Times Ahead for Surgery Center Owners?, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
2002
March Becker's ASC Review
Explaining the Growth in Orthopedic Driven ASCs, Moving Cases - The Next Great Opportunity and Threat, Surgical Hospitals - A Passing Fancy or a Real Addition to the Healthcare Community?, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
Jan. Becker's ASC Review
The Office of Inspector General Approves of a Hospital Physician Surgery Center Joint Venture, Surgical and Specialty Hospitals: A Legal Primer, Click to view the pdf
2001
June Becker's ASC Review
Selecting a Joint Venture Partner for Your ASC, ASCs - Core Risks, Center for Surgery - Naperville IL - A Shining Success Story, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
Jan. Becker's ASC Review
Stark II Final Regulations Issued on January 3 2001, ASC Preliminary Valuation Questions, ASC COmpliance Policies and Plans: Practical Approaches to Compliance Planning, Click to view the pdf (low-res)
July/August 2015 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
Breaking Tradition: Don’t Discount These 4 Potential Partners; ASC single specialty vs. multispecialty — Which is best?; 8 things to know about ASC reimbursement; The ASC Industry Won’t be the Same: 2 Significant Changes Slowly Gaining Momentum; Recruiting Physicians for ASCs — ASCOA’s Jeff Péo Shares Insights; Speeding Up ASCs With Efficient Technology; 110 ASC Benchmarks | 2015; Using Analytics to Answer the Hard Questions in Revenue Cycle Management; Physician-Owned Hospitals vs. Non-POHs: Patient Mix, Payments & Quality — 8 Key Notes; Hospital-employed physician practices tend to favor their parent hospitals: 5 observations; 8 Hospitals & Health Systems Opening ASCs; Potential opportunities insurance mega-mergers hold for ASCs: 4 key thoughts; 5 statistics on physician compensation; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield hack may impact 10M: 5 things to know; Cleveland Clinic standardizes to 2 implant vendors, at least one orthopedic surgeon out; Did this orthopedic surgeon let his PA perform surgery? Dr. Munir Uwaydah faces conspiracy, $150M fraud & aggravated mayhem charges: 6 key notes; California ASCs to settle out-of-network class action with United Health: 5 key notes; How to Make Your Eye Center Supply Management More Efficient; Rising Stars: 62 ASC Leaders Under 40; 10 new surgery centers in September 2015; Physician frustrations: 6 biggest stress points; ASC quality report: Q2 2015 — 8 key findings; 15 Things to Know About Orthopedics for ASCs; Strengthening spine in the ASC industry — Dr. Richard N. Wohns' insight; ACG: 7 GI/endoscopy coding & billing tips for screening colonoscopy; The low-hanging fruit of ASC OR efficiency: 6 best practices; A towel, a sponge, a needle, oh my! — What did you leave behind during surgery? 10 key facts