February 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
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.
ASC MANAGEMENT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Retaining, recruiting, keeping staff healthy: ASC leaders vent on new year's biggest challenges
Staffing shortages are the biggest concern of many ASC leaders in the new year as COVID-19 surges nationwide.
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.
ORTHOPEDICS
MSOs becoming attractive option for physician-owned orthopedic groups
Aligning with musculoskeletal management services organizations is becoming a more attractive strategic option for some orthopedic practices as economic, payer and administrative hurdles continue to challenge physician-owned groups to maintain independence.
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.
Leave spinal fusions to the surgeons, spine societies warn
The recent technology advances in spine surgery allow for less invasive procedures and outpatient surgeries. But several spine societies have come together to warn against non-spine surgeons performing spinal arthrodesis.
Employee at Illinois orthopedic group gets 1 year in prison for fraudulent opioid scripts
An administrative assistant at Westmont, Ill.-based Hinsdale Orthopaedics has been sentenced to one year in prison for writing fraudulent opioid prescriptions.
AAOS files brief supporting challenges of No Surprises Act rule
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons joined in filing an amicus brief supporting the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association's lawsuit challenging the implementation of the No Surprises Act.
GASTROENTROLOGY
19 insights on gastroenterology and ASCs
Here are 19 insights on gastroenterologist debt, net worth, compensation and procedure costs:
Arkansas practice joins GI Alliance to form state's largest GI network
Northwest Arkansas Gastroenterologists has joined Dallas-based GI Alliance to form the state's largest gastroenterologist network.
Gastro Health kicks off 2022 with 2 deals in Florida, Maryland
Miami-based Gastro Health is starting off the new year with two major deals in Maryland and Florida, according to two Jan. 5 news releases shared with Becker's ASC Review.
Funds misrouted to 'unknown bank account': Florida GI group hit with data breach, wire fraud
Bradenton-based Florida Digestive Health Specialists is notifying more than 212,500 individuals of a December 2020 breach involving business email compromise and fraud.
One GI closes 2nd deal of year in Indiana
One GI added Terre Haute, Ind.-based Digestive Health Associates to its network, the gastroenterology management company said Jan. 13.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
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.
Viewpoint: 3 ways digital health keeps patients safe
With the rise of digital health applications, physicians can use health information technology to keep patients safe, Yasir Khan, MD, senior physician executive of Cerner Middle East and Africa, wrote in Cerner's blog Jan. 13.
Best-paying healthcare jobs — anesthesiologist is No. 1.
Physician was named the sixth best-paying healthcare job, according to a U.S. News & World Report list released Jan. 11.
65% of people who had COVID-19 in 1st wave still have smell dysfunction: 3 study findings
In a small study of 100 people who contracted COVID-19 in the first wave, more than half have long-term changes to their sense of smell, according to preliminary research published Jan. 20 by MedRxiv.
Does virtual care save money? Cigna study says yes, up to $141 per visit
Virtual care isn't just seeing an increase in patient volume amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but also an increase in patient savings, according to a Cigna analysis shared with Becker's.