July/August 2022 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
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.
ASC MANAGEMENT
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.
5 statistics making ASC execs nervous
With rising operation costs, nurse shortages and a push toward industry consolidation, independent physicians and ASCs are having a hard time staying independent.
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.
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.
Justice Department cracks down on ASC, anesthesia provider arrangements
Recent government actions involving ASC-anesthesia provider arrangements point to a need to carefully vet these partnerships, according to a June 20 article in JDSupra from the law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
ASCs, MSOs among biggest growth opportunities in orthopedics
Developing ASCs, launching management services organizations and engaging in clinically integrated networks are some of the most lucrative investments for orthopedic practices today as outpatient migration continues and healthcare moves toward value-based care.
ASCs face reimbursement hurdles amid single-payer healthcare push
ASCs have long faced challenges in securing reimbursements, but successful ASCs are focused on payer contracting strategy.
Here's what's drawing patients to ASCs
From physician influence to fear of COVID-19 infection, 17 ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what's drawing patients to ASCs over hospitals.
Why ASCs are attractive to physicians in the era of hospital employment
Sandra Berreth, RN, director of the Foothill Surgery Center at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, Calif., joined Becker's to discuss what ASCs can do to attract physicians.
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.
JOINT VENTURES
Compass Surgical Partners, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital partner to build new ASC
Raleigh, N.C.-based Compass Surgical Partners joined with Greenville, S.C.-based Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and local physicians to build an ASC.
Centura Mercy Hospital, USPI partner to build Colorado ASC
Durango, Colo.-based Centura Mercy Hospital has partnered with Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International and local physicians to build a new surgery center.
USPI building joint venture ASC with physician investors in San Antonio
Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International, a Tenet Healthcare subsidiary, is building a medical office building and ASC in partnership with a group of physician investors, San Antonio Business Journal reported June 20.
Ground broken for 100K-SF joint venture ASC, endoscopy center
Gastroenterology group MNGI Digestive Health and Allina Health, both based in Minneapolis, broke ground on a joint venture multispecialty clinic, ASC and endoscopy center, REJournals reported June 30.
$12M medical office building with heart, orthopedic centers to open in North Carolina
Novant Health is constructing a $12 million medical office building on its Brunswick County campus in Bolivia, N.C., WilmingtonBiz reported June 3.
ORTHOPEDICS
Spine surgeons spotlight 4 key issues with robots
Surgical robots entered the spine field in 2004, when the FDA cleared the Mazor SpineAssist to guide the placement of pedicle screws. Spine robots have come a long way since but are still very much in their infancy. Although most surgeons consider robots to play a key role in the future of spine surgery, there are challenges that need to be addressed.
The next growth phase for 6 large orthopedic groups
Engaging in risk-based contracts, expanding ASCs and ancillary services and capitalizing on the shift of higher-acuity spine and joint replacement surgeries to the outpatient setting are among the biggest opportunities for growth in orthopedics.
Spine practice in Walmart stores grows patient visits 100% in Q2
The Back Company, a spine care franchise from Brentwood, Tenn.-based IMAC Holdings that launched in Walmart stores, reported more than 100 percent visit growth compared to the first quarter.
Musculoskeletal MSO with 150+ physicians launches in Maryland
More than 150 physicians affiliated with Bethesda, Md.-based the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics have come together to launch MedVanta, the largest physician-owned musculoskeletal management services organization in the U.S.
5 statistics making orthopedic surgeons optimistic
Although orthopedic surgeons face many challenges, there are also many numbers showing the specialty is growing stronger.
GASTROENTROLOGY
New colonoscopy tech has potential to revolutionize industry
Innovations in colonoscopy technology are progressing rapidly and have the potential to revolutionize colonoscopy effectiveness. Here are some newer techniques to consider, per industry experts at MDLix:
Cleveland Clinic performs multi-digestive-organ transplant to treat rare cancer
Cleveland Clinic has performed the first full multi-organ transplant with multiple digestive organs to treat a patient with a rare form of appendix cancer.
Blue Cross Blue Shield changes colonoscopy policy after patient complains
Blue Cross Blue Shield has changed its colonoscopy policy after a patient in Greensboro, N.C., complained about lack of coverage, local CBS affiliate WFMY reported May 23.
United Digestive, GI Alliance and more: 10 industry updates
Here are 10 updates on gastroenterology companies Becker's reported on during the second quarter:
The ACA colonoscopy billing violation that's all too common
Preventive colonoscopies, which are usually scheduled every 10 years starting at age 45, are supposed to be free for patients, according to the Affordable Care Act.
TRANSACTIONS
Private equity turns to physicians after courting ASCs for years
Private equity firms have long used ASCs as investment vehicles, which they have wrapped into larger portfolios and marketed to pension funds and other big institutional investors. But across the market, those institutions are reaching their capacity for such investments.
USPI, United Urology Group ink 22-ASC joint venture deal
United Surgical Partners International and United Urology Group signed an official agreement to form a joint venture partnership in 22 ASCs on June 21.
Hospital challenging $12.5M South Carolina ASC
Orangeburg, S.C.-based Regional Medical Center is set to challenge plans for a $12.5 million private ASC in a hearing that has been delayed till August to allow the hospital and physician group time to try to settle out of court, The Times and Democrat reported June 12.
Where 4 major ASC companies are focused for 2022
United Surgical Partners International, AmSurg, SCA Health and Surgery Partners have made significant changes in the last year and are looking to new strategies in the future.
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.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
15 Texas physicians to pay $2.8M to settle kickback allegations
Fifteen Texas physicians will pay a total of $2.83 million to resolve False Claim Act allegations involving kickbacks, the Justice Department said June 28.
Medicare's physician pay system is 'unsustainable,' trustees say
The current physician payment system is potentially unsustainable in the long term, according to a June report from Medicare trustees to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ascension St. Vincent abruptly closes 11 immediate care centers
Ascension St. Vincent gave one day's notice that it was closing 11 immediate care centers by the end of the day June 30, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Why health systems are choosing Amazon as their cloud provider
As health systems look to improve operational and clinical efficiencies by creating shared infrastructures, Amazon Web Services' cloud is becoming increasingly popular.
Meditech partners with 2 UK health system trusts to build joint EHR system
East Cheshire NHS Trust and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, part of the United Kingdom's National Health Service, will use Meditech Expanse to create a joint EHR system.