March/April 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
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.
ASC MANAGEMENT
Feds get involved with Nashville ophthalmology group false billing case
The federal government is involved with a case against Nashville, Tenn.-based SouthEast Eye Specialists, which is accused of defrauding Medicare of "tens of millions of dollars," The Nashville Post reports.
New York state orders physician to close surgery center — 4 insights
The New York Board for Professional Medical Conduct ordered Dennis Daly, MD, to close his surgery center in East Syracuse, N.Y., after he used an unqualified technician during a procedure, Syracuse.com 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.
Fraud scheme used dead people's names to get loans for procedures at Florida surgery center
A lender affiliated with Weston, Fla.-based Best U Now, an aesthetic surgery center, allegedly gave out loans to people using the identities of the recently deceased, the Broward Palm Beach New Times reports.
FDA recalls about 3,600 GE Healthcare anesthesia systems — 4 insights
The FDA on Feb. 7 issued a class 1 recall for 3,599 GE Carestation 600 series anesthesia systems because of a flaw that can cause the mechanical ventilation system to stop working.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The evolution of ASCs in 50 years + what the future holds: 7 industry leaders' thoughts
This week, on Feb. 12, the ASC industry celebrates its 50th anniversary. According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, the first ASC was established in 1970 by Wallace Reed, MD, and John Ford, MD, in Phoenix.
SCA's plans for 2020: CEO Caitlin Zulla on key investments, partnerships and more
Caitlin Zulla became CEO of Surgical Care Affiliates in December after spending nearly five years as the company's CFO and chief administrative officer.
Why Florida's ASC market is booming — Administrator Ashlie Cramer elaborates
At least nine ASCs opened in Florida last year, cementing its place among the states that experienced the most ASC growth in 2019. Here, Ashlie Cramer, MSN, RN, nurse administrator at Delray Beach (Fla.) Surgical Suites, explored why new ASC development was booming in Florida and shared insights into the future of the market.
The No. 1 opportunity for ASC growth: 3 insights from Dr. Philip Schneider
Philip L. Schneider, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics in Chevy Chase, Md. Here, he shares his thoughts on the growth in ASCs.
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.
JOINT VENTURES
Maximizing reimbursements in ASCs: A review of reimbursement methodology
With the shift to value-based healthcare, more procedures are being performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
4 new joint-venture ASCs — July 2019
Here are four joint-venture ASCs opened or announced in July: Worcester, Mass.-based Reliant Medical Group and Quincy, Mass.-based Shields Health Care Group plan to open Natick (Mass.) Surgery Center in 2020.
A state-by-state breakdown of new ASC developments — Texas is No. 1
ASC development had a banner year in 2019, with more than 180 new centers opening across the U.S.
Johns Hopkins' $80M ASC is one of Maryland's largest — 5 things to know
Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine opened one of Maryland's largest surgery centers in 2019.
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.
ORTHOPEDICS
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.
6 questions on the future of outpatient orthopedics with Dr. Randall Schultz
W. Randall Schultz, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at Texas Orthopedics in Austin. Here, he shares his thoughts on outpatient orthopedics.
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.
Wyoming orthopedic practice erecting $11M surgery center
Laramie, Wyo.-based Premier Bone & Joint Centers has an $11 million surgery center and physical therapy building in the works, according to Colorado Real Estate Journal.
Private equity's potential impact on orthopedics: 5 surgeons' views
Five orthopedic surgeons shared their thoughts on private equity with Becker's ASC Review:
GASTROENTROLOGY
10 colonoscopy, endoscopy developments for ASC leaders to know
Here is a roundup of the top news relating to colonoscopies and endoscopies from the past year:
2 high-volume gastroenterology ASCs plan ownership changes
Gastroenterology Associates' two outpatient endoscopy centers — Endoscopy Center of Niagara and Endoscopy Center of Western New York — are making ownership changes involving non-physician owners, Buffalo Business First reports.
5 trends affecting the gastroenterology specialty
Gastroenterology remains a lucrative specialty for ASCs, with both growth and disruption expected in 2020.
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.
3 things to know about GI lifestyle & happiness from 'Medscape'
Medscape released its 2020 physician lifestyle and happiness report, diving into trends in specialty choice, satisfaction and more. Medscape surveyed over 15,000 physicians across 29 specialties to create the report.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
The 20 healthiest, unhealthiest cities in America l 2020
The 2020 edition of WalletHub's annual ranking of healthiest cities in America was released Feb. 10. The firm compared more than 170 U.S. cities across 43 performance indicators to determine its ranking of the healthiest cities.
Mayo Clinic medical school accepts 364 students by mistake
The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., erroneously emailed 364 letters of acceptance to students seeking admission.
Amazon Care goes live in Seattle: 5 things to know
Amazon's virtual medical clinic that offers in-person follow-ups is now available to Amazon employees in Seattle, according to CNBC.
West Virginia hospital to close, lay off 600 employees
Fairmont (W.Va.) Regional Medical Center notified employees Feb. 18 that it is closing after attempts to find a buyer failed, according to West Virginia MetroNews.
Bankrupt California health system lays off 920 employees
More than 900 workers lost their jobs when Verity Health, a nonprofit system based in El Segundo, Calif., closed one of its hospitals last month.