June 2019 Issue of Becker's ASC Review

ON THE COVER

TriStar building $17.3M surgery center on HCA property after lengthy delay — 6 details
Brentwood, Tenn.-based TriStar Health is moving forward with a $17.3 million surgery center development after fierce opposition from competitors delayed the project for over a year, the Nashville Post reports.

Louisiana neurologist allegedly defrauded government of nearly $1.7M
Louisiana neurologist Anil Prasad, MD, was charged with conspiring to dispense controlled substances and commit healthcare fraud, according to the Department of Justice.

Colonoscopy tops list of top ASC procedure charges — 14 statistics
More than 2,250 ASCs claimed either private or government insurance for colonoscopies in 2018, according to data from Definitive Healthcare, a company that tracks healthcare data.

The key financial concepts and payer trends for ASCs today
Thomas K. Miller, MD, is the sports medicine chief at Carilion Clinic Institute for Orthopaedic and Neurosciences in Roanoke, Va.

World's 10 biggest healthcare companies by revenue
McKesson Corp.and UnitedHealth Group are two of the world's largest healthcare companies by revenue, according to Largest.org, which ranks companies based on revenue and other factors.

DOJ charges 24 in $1.2B+ medical device kickback scheme — 5 insights
The Department of Justice charged 24 individuals in connection with a massive kickback scheme that resulted in more than $1.2 billion in losses.

Physician Partners of America brings on 3 more former Laser Spine Institute surgeons
Tampa, Fla.-based Physician Partners of America welcomed three former Laser Spine Institute surgeons.

10 things to know about spine surgery in ASCs for 2019
Here are 10 key facts and studies on outpatient spine surgery and spine procedures in ASCs

Michigan-based ASC company aims to develop 15 centers through 2020: 5 things to know
Royal Oak, Mich.-based Hillcrest Capital Partners, an ASC development and management company, aims to open 15 ASCs in the near future, according to Crains Detroit Business.

Employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians for 1st time in U.S.
Self-employed physician numbers continue to decrease as a new American Medical Association study shows employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians for the first time in U.S. history.

ASC MANAGEMENT

The coming boom — private equity’s impending impact in orthopedics
Private equity investment in orthopedics to date has been sparse, but the fuse is lit and the fireworks are coming.

4 key steps to ensure long-term success at your ASC
Developing a detailed strategic plan helps ensure an ASC's ongoing success, according to the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

Laser Spine Institute under fire over insurance handling — 5 key details
Here are five of the most popular articles on Becker's ASC Review this week

Utah ASC director on how cash-pay pricing can grow profit margins — 4 takeaways
Cash-pay surgery is a growing trend in the U.S., according to Maria Todd, PhD, director of business development at St. George (Utah) Surgical Center.

Women's Choice Award lists best ASCs per state
Women's Choice Award ranked the best ASCs per state. Women’s Choice Award chooses healthcare facilities based on a number of metrics, including survey responses, consumer experience and patient feedback.

Healthcare private equity deals up 22% in 2017 — Envision buyout, regional activity & more
The number of healthcare private equity deals rose to a record 265 in 2017, according to a 2019 report from consulting firm Bain & Company.

4 orthopedist employment, salary statistics
More orthopedists are satisfied with their pay than in past years, according to Medscape's 2019 orthopedist compensation report, which provides details on salary, hours worked and job challenges.

Surgery center employee allegedly bypassed system to prescribe 5K+ pills — 5 details
A longtime Rochester, N.Y.-based Cornerstone Eye Associates employee allegedly used her position as the Lasik refraction surgery coordinator to illegally prescribe 5,000-plus opioids, local ABC News affiliate 13WHAM reports.

These are the best states to work as a nurse
Oregon, Minnesota and Washington are the top three states to work as a nurse, according to a report from personal finance website WalletHub.

Anesthesiologists are top earners among physician specialties
Out of 11 medical specialties on Business Insider's list of the highest-paid physicians, anesthesiologists earn the most.

What percentage of ASCs are physician-owned?
The majority of ASCs are physician owned, according to data from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's 2017 salary and benefits survey.

Top 10 states for physicians in 2019
Based on career and lifestyle factors, North Dakota is the best state in which to practice medicine, according to MDLinx.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

The PE time bomb — Provident's Abe M'Bodj on where investment in GI is headed in 2019
While three private equity firms have invested in gastroenterology to date, several analysts believe more deals are on the way in 2019.

Where a Kansas ASC plans to invest for future growth: Q&A with Director Sonja Clapp
Sonja Clapp, director of AdventHealth Surgery Center Shawnee Mission in Lenexa, Kan., discusses the biggest investments her center will make over the next few years.

Simplify ASC’s Marta Shultz on the key ways ASCs can improve quality
ASCs can improve quality in three key ways, according to Marta Shultz, vice president of quality for Simplify ASC.

ASC staffing, budgeting and growth: Big trends from Sylvia Johns
Sylvia Johns, director of surgical services for Olympia (Wash.) Orthopaedic Associates, discusses the big challenges and opportunities for orthopedic surgery centers today.

Big trends in outpatient orthopedics from Dr. Vishal Mehta
Vishal Mehta, MD, is president of Fox Valley Orthopedics in Geneva, Ill.

Dr. John Prunskis: Key trends to watch in the ASC industry
John V. Prunskis, MD, CEO and medical director of the Illinois Pain Institute and The Regenerative Stem Cell Institute in Barrington, Ill., discusses the best opportunities for ASCs in the next five years.

Improving hand washing, decreasing surgical site infections & more: 3 ASC quality insights from Northwestern Medicine nursing manager Lynn Nolan
Lynn M. Nolan, MSN, RN, Manager of the Universal Care Center and post anesthesia care unit at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest (Ill.) Hospital, shared her tips and insight on how to improve quality and infection control at ASCs.

JOINT VENTURES

5 thoughts for a joint-venture ASC + key concepts for building a strong operational structure
Michael Patterson, president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Health in Davenport, Iowa, discusses the key aspects of a successful ASC joint venture.

10 ASC closures in the past year, and the reason why
There have been several ASC openings, and a few closures, over the past 12 months.

PE-backed firm acquires eye center with 3 clinics, 2 ASCs: 5 things to know
Omni Ophthalmic Management Consultants acquired an eye center with locations in Pennsylvania and Maryland, according to a press release published in PE Hub.

27 PE firms investing in skin practices & ASCs — Goldman Sachs, Waud Capital & more
Private equity firms often create subsidiaries to acquire and operate dermatology practices and surgery centers, according to PhysiciansFirst Healthcare Partners.

Compass Surgical Partners' joint-venture ASC serves 3,000+ patients in 1st year
Stuart (Fla.) Surgery Center has treated 3,000-plus patients since opening its doors in April 2018.

Mount Sinai, Merritt Healthcare seeking CON for $10.2M GI-focused ASC — 5 insights
New York City-based Mount Sinai Ambulatory Ventures and Ridgefield, Conn.-based Merritt Healthcare applied for a certificate of need to build a $10.2 million, gastroenterology-focused ASC, according to the submitted application.

CODING & BILLING

The key financial concepts and payer trends for ASCs today
Thomas K. Miller, MD, is the sports medicine chief at Carilion Clinic Institute for Orthopaedic and Neurosciences in Roanoke, Va.

Casetabs & Surgical Notes to integrate transcription, document management software
Revenue cycle service provider Surgical Notes has partnered with surgery coordination app Casetabs to integrate the companies' ScanChart ASC and SNChart software.

Allstate, State Farm sue pain practices over alleged billing schemes — 6 insights
State Farm and Allstate filed two separate lawsuits accusing physicians and their pain practices of illegal billing schemes, Claims Journal reports.

4 top reasons ASC claims are denied + the code that makes up 7% of denials
When evaluating claim denials, ASCs should focus on payers and their individually negotiated contracts, according to Will Israel, vice president of enterprise analytics solutions for The SSI Group, a revenue cycle management service provider.

The top 5 procedures performed at ASCs
Definitive Healthcare's database tracks the top procedures performed at ASCs.

5 states with the highest medical malpractice payouts
Medical malpractice payouts in the U.S. amounted to $4.03 billion in 2018, according to LeverageRx's 2019 Medical Malpractice Payout Report.

ORTHOPEDICS

Forest Park Medical Center kickback trial ends in convictions for 4 physicians
The kickback trial involving Forest Park Medical Center owners and physicians ended yesterday with seven defendants receiving convictions and one acquittal, according to a report in the Dallas Business Journal.

Orthopedic surgeon gets 5 months in federal prison for illegal hydrocodone pill distribution: 4 notes
An orthopedic surgeon that pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy after illegally distributing hydrocodone last year has been sentenced to federal prison, according to a Tulsa World report.

Williamson Medical Center, Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee surgeons partner to open facility — 3 details
The Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee — a partnership between Franklin, Tenn.-based Williamson Medical Center and more than a dozen orthopedic surgeons — set an opening date for its new facility.

Physician Partners of America brings on 3 more former Laser Spine Institute surgeons
Tampa, Fla.-based Physician Partners of America welcomed three former Laser Spine Institute surgeons.

10 things to know about spine surgery in ASCs for 2019
Here are 10 key facts and studies on outpatient spine surgery and spine procedures in ASCs

California neurosurgeon charged with billing fraud: 4 points
A neurosurgeon in Carmichael, Calif., has been charged in billing fraud, according to a report from KCRA 3, a local NBC affiliate.

Spine surgeon, New Jersey ASC operator has license temporarily suspended after inappropriate texts with patients: 5 details
A spine surgeon who operates two ASCs in New Jersey had his license temporarily suspended after allegations of inappropriately contacting two patients, according to a report from the North Jersey Record.

Missouri orthopedic practice ordered to provide outcomes data on knee procedure after claiming 92% success rate: 5 key notes
Mizzou BioJoint Center may be required to provide outcomes data after claiming a knee osteoarthritis treatment had a 92 percent success rate, according to the Columbia Tribune.

GASTROENTEROLOGY

4 gastroenterologists share their thoughts on Exact Sciences' Cologuard
Although Exact Sciences' Cologuard completed its 2 millionth test, the multitarget stool DNA test remains a topic of contention in the gastroenterology space.

6 insights into endoscope reprocessing & how to ensure guideline adherence
Endoscope reprocessing is still an issue of utmost importance, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News reports.

5 insights into GI physician salary
If they could turn back time, most gastroenterologists who would choose to go into medicine again would also choose to go into gastroenterology again, according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2019."

Raising CRC awareness through humor & levity: 3 Qs with Dr. Charles Friel
Charles Friel, MD, colon and rectal surgery chief at the Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Medical Center dressed up as a red colon polyp named Paulie to educate staff and patients about colon cancer prevention in honor of colorectal cancer awareness month.

3 ASCs, endoscopy centers with the highest colonoscopy volume in 2018
Over 2,250 ASCs claimed either private or government insurance for colonoscopies in 2018, according to data from Definitive Healthcare, a company that tracks healthcare data.

Early-onset CRC rates continue to rise
Early-onset colorectal cancer incidence rates increased in several high-income countries, according to research published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

QUALITY

5 things to know about physician salaries
Medical Economics' 90th annual Physician Report showed physician salaries are declining or remaining stagnant.

10 physician assistant salary statistics
The average income for physician assistants in 2018 was $110,567, according to a report from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

HEALTHCARE NEWS

Google's most-searched diseases, by state
HPV, celiac disease and diabetes are the most-Googled diseases in the U.S., despite not being as deadly or as prevalent as heart disease, the nation's top killer disease, according to an analysis from insurance research company TermLife2Go.

Washington health system files for bankruptcy, cites issues with revenue cycle vendor
Astria Health, a three-hospital health system based in Sunnyside, Wash., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 6.

CHS sees net loss quadruple, revenue sink in Q1
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, which operates 106 hospitals in 18 states, saw its net loss swell in the first quarter of 2019.

Michael Kasper, CEO of DuPage Medical Group, dies at 46
Michael Kasper, CEO of Downers Grove, Ill.-based DuPage Medical Group, died May 4, according to a statement from DMG spokesperson Marianne Geiger.

DOJ files formal request to strike down entire ACA: 5 things to know
The Department of Justice argued the ACA is unconstitutional and urged a federal judge to strike down the entire law in a brief filed in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 1, according to CNN.

Walmart has no shelf space for hospitals’ shoddy healthcare
If you want to witness one of the most compelling examples of healthcare "disruption" today, gather hospital and health system leaders in a room and hand a microphone to Lisa Woods, senior director of U.S. Health Care at Walmart.

Trump pushes legislation to end 'outrageous medical bills'
President Donald Trump is urging Congress to pass legislation to end surprise billing that can leave hospital patients with massive out-of-pocket costs, according to The Washington Post.

Judge steps down from UnitedHealth case over 'immoral' denial of cancer treatment
A federal judge recused himself from a class-action case against UnitedHealthcare because the health insurer denied coverage of radiation treatment that could have treated his own cancer, according to BenefitsPRO.

15 most common passwords
May 2 is World Password Day — celebrate by strengthening your passwords.

Baylor St. Luke's ordered to submit correction plan or risk losing Medicare funding
State regulators have ordered Houston-based Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center to address patient safety and care quality issues or risk losing Medicare funding, according to letter cited by the Houston Chronicle.

June 2019 Issue of Becker's ASC Review

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