October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
How 4 ASCs are improving the patient experience
Four ASC administrators discuss how they are improving the patient experience. Click here to continue
Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know
Six physicians with Heartland Cardiology, based in Wichita, Kan., have opened a new, cardiology-focused surgery center, according to a Wichita Business Journal report. Click here to continue
Surgery Partners welcomes 3 ASCs to network
Three surgery centers joined the Nashville, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners network. Click here to continue
Compass Surgical Partners, 5 surgeons partner to build orthopedic-focused ASC
Construction is underway on the Fort Myers, Fla.-based Performance Health Surgery Center, a joint venture between Raleigh, N.C.-based Compass Surgical Partners and five surgeons. Click here to continue
Stryker acquires K2M for $1.4B, a 27% premium: 5 things to know
Stryker inked a deal to acquire minimally invasive spine device company K2M for approximately $1.4 billion. Click here to continue
How many ASCs with total joints do large ASC companies have?
The number of ASCs with total joint replacements is growing among both independent centers and ASC chains. Click here to continue
Gastro Health acquires largest private practice in Orlando — 4 insights
Miami-based Gastro Health is entering the central Florida market by acquiring Orlando's largest private gastroenterology group, Central Florida Gastroenterology. Click here to continue
How orthopedics, spine will grow in ASCs from 4 surgeons
Orthopedics and spine are evolving specialties for the outpatient and ambulatory surgery center space. Click here to continue
ASCs could start providing 131 more device-intensive procedures for Medicare patients if CMS approves rule: 5 things to know
CMS proposed several updates to ASC payments in the 2019 proposed payment rule, issued July 25. Click here to continue
USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 so far, and more to come
For the second quarter of 2018, United Surgical Partners International reported strong net operating revenues at $531 million, a 12.5 percent increase from the same period last year. Click here to continue
ASC MANAGEMENT
Idaho ASC files lawsuit against AmSurg, cites mismanagement: 7 things to know
A Twin Falls, Idaho-based ASC filed a lawsuit against Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg and Twin Falls NSC, complaining of "gross mismanagement" and alleging the companies did not support strategic planning after competitor Twin Falls-based St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center opened an outpatient surgery center, among other issues, according to a Magic Valley.com report. Click here to continue
AbbVie accused of bribing physicians in $1.2B kickback scheme — 6 insights
ASCs could start providing 131 more device-intensive procedures for Medicare patients if CMS approves rule: 5 things to know
CMS proposed several updates to ASC payments in the 2019 proposed payment rule, issued July 25. One of the key changes for ASCs would be to broaden the definition of device-intensive procedures, adding around 131 procedures for Medicare beneficiaries in the ASC setting. Click here to continue
Inventory management & other supply chain challenges: 3 Qs with ASC expert Lacey Dyer
Surgical Investors and Advisors' Vice President of Clinical Operations Lacey Dyer, RN, BSN, is an expert in selecting and purchasing equipment, instrumentation and supplies specific to ASCs. Click here to continue
How 4 ASCs are improving the patient experience
Four ASC administrators discuss how they are improving the patient experience. Click here to continue
Intermountain cuts 396 jobs, adds 107 in reorganization
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare said its reorganization of operations affected hundreds of positions, according to a Deseret News report. Click here to continue
JOINT VENTURES
Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know
AHA to CMS: Keep physician-owned hospital ban in Stark Law
Last Friday, the OIG requested public input on regulatory provisions that are barriers of coordinated care, or value-based care, including the anti-kickback statute, which prohibits self-referral for federal healthcare businesses. Click here to continue
United Surgical Partners International, Integris seek to purchase 3 Community Hospital locations
Oklahoma City-based Integris is entering into a joint venture with Austin, Texas-based United Surgical Partners International to purchase three Community Hospital locations in Oklahoma City, NewsOK reported. Click here to continue
Ophthalmology investments spread across the South: 5 key developments
The South became a hot region for ophthalmology investments after two private-equity backed platforms entered the market earlier this year, according to PhysiciansFirst Healthcare Partners. Click here to continue
USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 so far, and more to come
For the second quarter of 2018, United Surgical Partners International reported strong net operating revenues at $531 million, a 12.5 percent increase from the same period last year. Click here to continue
Surgery Partners welcomes 3 ASCs to network
Three surgery centers joined the Nashville, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners network. Click here to continue
Compass Surgical Partners, 5 surgeons partner to build orthopedic-focused ASC — 5 details
Construction is underway on the Fort Myers, Fla.-based Performance Health Surgery Center, a joint venture between Raleigh, N.C.-based Compass Surgical Partners and five surgeons. Click here to continue
ASCs should brace for these 2 trends, says Regent Surgical Health CEO Chris Bishop
ASCs should anticipate growth in hospital-owned insurance plans and retail medicine, according to Regent Surgical Health CEO Chris Bishop. Click here to continue
10 statistics on minority, controlling interests in ASCs
Healthcare Appraisers surveyed 15 respondents including representatives of Ambulatory Surgery Centers of America, Birmingham, Ala.-based Surgical Care Affiliates and others on selling minority and controlling interests in surgery
centers. Click here to continue
Stryker makes another acquisition for $220M: 5 things to know
About a month after it's billion-dollar acquisition of K2M, Stryker continues to make smaller acquisitions to complement its product portfolio. Click here to continue
ORTHOPEDICS
Drs. David Evanich, Chris Evanich perform 59 total joints in a week — 5 highlights
Orthopedic surgeons David Evanich, MD, and Chris Evanich, MD, led One World Surgery teams to complete 59 total joint surgeries in one week at the Holy Family Surgery Center in Jalaca, Honduras. Click here to continue
Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites & Spectrum Orthopedics performs 1K total joint replacements
North Canton-based Ohio Specialty Surgical Suites and Spectrum Orthopedics performed its thousandth total joint replacement surgery, IndeOnline.com reports. Click here to continue
Jury awards $8.2M in patent infringement suit against DePuy Synthes: 5 things to know
A jury found in favor of Acantha in a patent dispute with DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson company, capping a longtime dispute over unlicensed spinal products. Click here to continue
Orthopedic procedure volume grows in the ASC, outpatient settings: 10 key statistics
The percent of inpatient procedures decreased while the percent of outpatient and ASC procedures increased, according to a Leerink Partners survey conducted in June. Click here to continue
UC Davis Health welcomes new orthopedic surgery chair: 5 details
Sarcoma specialist R. Lor Randall, MD, joins Sacramento-based UC Davis Health as its chair of orthopedic surgery. Click here to continue
Stryker acquires K2M for $1.4B, a 27% premium: 5 things to know
Stryker inked a deal to acquire minimally invasive spine device company K2M for approximately $1.4 billion. Click here to continue
California medical board claims orthopedic surgeon continued seeing patients with suspended licenselicense
An amended accusation from the Medical Board of California alleges John P.S. Janda, MD, continued to see patients despite having a suspended license, according to The Fresno Bee. Click here to continue
GI/ENDOSCOPY
Gastro Health completes South Florida Gastroenterology Associates acquisition — 5 insights
Miami-based Gastro Health closed its acquisition of Boynton Beach-based South Florida Gastroenterology Associates, rebranding the practice's several locations under the Gastro Health banner. Click here to continue
Gastro Health acquires largest private practice in Orlando
Miami-based Gastro Health is entering the central Florida market by acquiring Orlando's largest private gastroenterology group, Central Florida Gastroenterology. Click here to continue
2 more patients accuse gastroenterologist of sexual misconduct — 5 insights
Two more women brought lawsuits against Crestview, Fla.-based gastroenterologist Khalid Moussa, MD, alleging sexual misconduct, nwfdailynews.com reports. Click here to continue
How the proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule can impact GIs — 12 insights
The American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy released a joint address on CMS' 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Click here to continue
CODING AND BILLING
Creating the ultimate patient experience while strengthening your revenue cycle: technology, consumer protections, and best practices
The patient collection process has moved beyond simply collecting patient co-payments and sending billing statements. Click here to continue
AMA releases 335 code changes for 2019 — Here are the key updates
The American Medical Association revealed the 2019 Current Procedural Terminology code set, which includes significant changes to CPT codes and descriptors. Click here to continue
Physician sentenced to 18 months in prison for $30M Medicare, Medicaid fraud: 6 key facts
U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield sentenced Mustak Y. Vaid, MD, to 18 months in prison for participating in a $30 million scheme to defraud Medicare and the New York State Medicaid program. Click here to continue
Here’s what ASCs need to know about bundled payments — 6 takeaways
Bundled payments can help ASCs increase reimbursements while remaining competitive in a value-based environment, according to MNet. Click here to continue
4 billing & coding updates that could affect ASC reimbursement
Here are four billing and coding updates with the potential to impact ASC reimbursement: Click here to continue
QUALITY & ACCREDITATION
ESEC Surgery Center correcting CMS violations after losing Medicare payments — 6 insights
CMS halted its payments to Oklahoma City-based ESEC Surgery Center Aug. 18, but the center is working diligently to correct two deficiencies, NewsOk reports. Click here to continue
Texas Children’s Hospital fires nurse over Facebook post
A nurse at Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital was fired after she posted a patient's condition on an anti-vaccination Facebook page, hospital officials confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review. Click here to continue
5 organizations team up to tackle antibiotic resistance in outpatient space
To address the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, several organizations are joining forces to develop best practices for antibiotic stewardship. Click here to continue
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Ascension fires 75% of DC-based Providence Health System’s board
Nine of Washington, D.C.-based Providence Health System's 12 board members were abruptly fired Aug. 30, according to emails obtained by the Washington City Paper. Click here to continue
Colorado hospital ends relationship with Vail Summit Orthopaedics: 5 highlights
Frisco, Colo.-based St. Anthony Summit Medical Center declined to renew its contract with Vail (Colo.) Summit Orthopaedics, according to the Summit Daily. Click here to continue