September/October Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
The best opportunity to improve ASC profitability in 2-3 years
Five ASC administrators discuss the biggest opportunity for improved profitability at their centers in the future. Click here to continue
Will outpatient total joint replacement become the norm?
J. David Evanich, MD, partner at Flower Mound, Texas-based Orthopedic Associates and board president of Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Flower Mound, an affiliate of Surgical Care Affiliates, discusses lessons learned about outpatient total joint replacement in ASCs and how he thinks the procedure will grow in the future. Click here to continue
CMS proposes 2% ASC pay increase in 2019: 5 key notes
In a 761-page proposal, CMS released the 2019 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments, addressing payment factors and potential changes in the quality reporting system, according to an ASCA report. Click here to continue
SurgCenter Development performs 30k outpatient joint replacements — 4 insights
Towson, Md.-based SurgCenter Development completed its 30,000th joint replacement since launching the program in 2013. Click here to continue
Allstate files $2M suit against ASCs, orthopedic surgeons and others: 4 things to know
Insurance giant Allstate has filed 81 fraud lawsuits in New York since 2003, and the company recently filed another suit against 13 new corporations in an attempt to cover $2 million in damages from the no-fault healthcare firms and their owners, according to Claims Journal. Click here to continue
15 statistics on GI starting salary
Merritt Hawkins released its 2018 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives report documenting the salaries of several healthcare specialties. Click here to continue
Orthopedic surgery tops specialties for industry payments at $258M
Orthopedic surgeons received the highest value of payments, according to the CMS Open Payment Data in 2017. Click here to continue
Top challenges for 6 ASCs today
Six ASC administrators and executives discuss the top challenges facing their centers today and steps they're taking to build a strong foundation for the future. Click here to continue
Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know
Manhattan (Kan.) Specialists Center, a cardiovascular surgery center, achieved accreditation in July and has completed the first few days of procedures, according to Administrator Tiffany Zachary. Click here to continue
Physicians Endoscopy names new president: 4 insights
Physicians Endoscopy named David Young as its new president. Mr. Young brings 20 years of experience across a variety of industry sectors to the role. Click here to continue
ASC MANAGEMENT
Top challenges for 6 ASCs today
Six ASC administrators and executives discuss the top challenges facing their centers today and steps they're taking to build a strong foundation for the future. Click here to continue
The best opportunity to improve ASC profitability in 2 to 3 years from 5 ASC administrators
Five ASC administrators discuss the biggest opportunity for improved profitability at their centers in the future. Click here to continue
Cardiovascular surgery center opens in Kansas: 4 things to know
Manhattan (Kan.) Specialists Center, a cardiovascular surgery center, achieved accreditation in July and has completed the first few days of procedures, according to Administrator Tiffany Zachary. Click here to continue
Email hack exposes 2K records at Orthopaedic Institute Surgery Center — 5 facts
An IT incident at Metropolis, Ill.-based Orthopaedic Institute Surgery Center compromised 2,000 records, according to HHS' Office for Civil Rights Breach Portal. Click here to continue
Surgery center nurse who allegedly stole narcotics indicted — 3 insights
Former nurse Danielle Lynn Langham was indicted on 23 drug diversion-related charges June 26. Click here to continue
Former ASC manager faces 30 years in prison for stealing $514k: 5 things to know
The former manager of a Williamsburg, Va.-based eye center faces 30 years in prison after charging hundreds of thousands of dollars to the center's credit cards for personal use, according to a WAVY report. Click here to continue
ADMINISTRATOR'S CORNER
The necessary change for an ASC’s sustainability: key thoughts from South Portland Surgical Center’s Lianna McDowell
Lianne McDowell, CASC, administrator of South Portland Surgical Center in Tualatin, Ore., shares her observations about how the healthcare field is changing and how her center will promote sustained growth over the next few years. Click here to continue
Why an Iowa-based ASC’s strategic plan is sticking to the basics
Michael Patterson, president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Health in Davenport, Iowa, discusses how healthcare is changing and his strategic plans for Mississippi Valley Surgery Center in the future. Click here to continue
The new healthcare concepts that can drive ASC growth
Jeffrey Flynn, CASC, administrator of New York City-based Gramercy Surgery Center, discusses how the healthcare landscape is changing and why his ASC won't be bullied by hospitals anymore. Click here to continue
The strategic advantage of ASCs: 2 key thoughts from Green Mountain Surgery Center’s John Paoni
Administrator of Colchester, Vt.-based Green Mountain Surgery Center John Paoni examines the critical factors affecting ASCs today and how his center will proceed for sustained growth. Click here to continue
How a North Carolina-based ASC aims to create value for the healthcare system
CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Health Outpatient Surgery-Clemmons (N.C.) Corrie Massey, discusses how her center will continue to grow in the future. Click here to continue
Key trends and concepts for a thriving ASC: 3 questions with Polaris Spine COO Joy Taylor
COO of Polaris Spine Joy Taylor discusses the ASC payer landscape and where her center will grow in the future. Click here to continue
JOINT VENTURES
6 statistics on working capital as a % of net revenue for ASCs
VMG Health's 2018 Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study broke down working capital as percentage of net revenue for ASCs by region. Click here to continue
8 hospitals, health systems opening or planning ASCs
Here are eight hospitals and health systems that opened or announced plans for ASCs in March. Click here to continue
Finding the ideal balance: 5 key ASC staffing tips
Outpatient Opthalmic Surgery Society's the Ophthalmic ASC magazine outlined five tips on how to efficiently staff an ASC. Click here to continue
KKR’s $9.9B acquisition of Envision is the biggest healthcare deal in Q2 — Top 5 deals to knows
The U.S. health services industry generated 200 deals for the 15th quarter in a row, including several megadeals, according to PwC. Click here to continue
UnitedHealth, Optum report strong Q2 financials: 12 takeaways
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group's revenues grew in the second quarter of 2018, with Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Optum revenues hitting $24.7 billion. Click here to continue
KKR seeking new investors through corporation move — 5 insights
New York City-based KKR made the move to become a corporation July 1, hoping to reach out to a new pool of investors, Reuters reports. Click here to continue
HCA reports freestanding ASC surgery volume up 1.5% in Q2: 6 things to know
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare reported a 7.4 percent increase in revenue to $11.5 billion, as well as success among its outpatient surgery facilities. Click here to continue
Is a major ASC acquisition in HCA’s future? Here’s what CEO R. Milton Johnson has to say
As KKR prepares to acquire Envision Healthcare and Optum continues to grow Surgical Care Affiliates, other large healthcare and ASC chains are taking note. Click here to continue
GI/ENDOSCOPY
15 statistics on GI starting salary
Merritt Hawkins released its 2018 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives report documenting the salaries of several healthcare specialties. Click here to continue
21 women sue Florida gastroenterologist for alleged sexual assault, battery
Twenty-one women filed lawsuits against Khalid Moussa, MD, alleging the gastroenterologists committed a number of inappropriate behaviors during exams, WEARE TV reports. Click here to continue
Former Gastro Health CEO Alejandro Fernandez takes top post at new company: 5 insights
Alejandro Fernandez is now CEO of New York City-based Navaderm Partners, a newly formed practice management company specializing in operating dermatology practices. Click here to continue
USPI deployed $120M on acquisitions in 2018 & 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
AmSurg reports 3% Q2 revenue increase to $328M, KKR acquisition expected to close in Q4: 5 key notes
Envision reported net revenue at $2.07 billion for the second quarter of 2018 — its first quarterly report since KKR agreed to acquire the company. Click here to continue
Surgery Partners has another strong quarter, revenues increased 54.2% — 8 insights
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners reported its second quarter 2018 financial results, reporting $444.8 million in revenues. Click here to continue
10 things to know about Stryker’s SPY-PHI’s device
Founded by a Michigan physician who wished to ease his patients' struggles in 1941, Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker Corp. now sells its medical devices in over 100 countries around the world. Click here to continue
ORTHOPEDICS
Allstate files $2M suit against ASCs, orthopedic surgeons and others: 4 things to know
Insurance giant Allstate has filed 81 fraud lawsuits in New York since 2003, and the company recently filed another suit against 13 new corporations in an attempt to cover $2 million in damages from the no-fault healthcare firms and their owners, according to Claims Journal. Click here to continue
Amazon enters the spine market, now sells screw removal kit online: 5 things to know
Mahe Medical is partnering with Amazon Business Professional Healthcare to introduce a new emergency spine screw sold on Amazon. Click here to continue
Will outpatient total joint replacement become the norm? Here’s how Dr. J. David Evanich has made it work
J. David Evanich, MD, partner at Flower Mound, Texas-based Orthopedic Associates and board president of Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Flower Mound, an affiliate of Surgical Care Affiliates, discusses lessons learned about outpatient total joint replacement in ASCs and how he thinks the procedure will grow in the future. Click here to continue
SurgCenter Development surgeons perform 30K outpatient joint replacements — 4 insights
Towson, Md.-based SurgCenter Development completed its 30,000th joint replacement since launching the program in 2013. Click here to continue
3 orthopedic surgeons named in $950M kickback scheme, 2 plead guilty
Orthopedic surgeon Daniel Capen, MD, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., pled guilty to conspiracy related to a kickback scheme at Long Beach, Calif.-based Pacific Hospital, according to the LA Business Journal. Click here to continue
Orthopedic surgery tops specialties for industry payments at $258M
Orthopedic surgeons received the highest value of payments, according to the CMS Open Payment Data in 2017. Click here to continue
ANESTHESIA
Anesthesiologists & surgeons top list of 25 highest-paying jobs — Lawyers left in the dust
Anesthesiologists occupy the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates list, with healthcare jobs occupying many other top spots. Click here to continue
Comprehensive Pain Specialists closing majority of practices following CEO fraud indictment — 5 insights
Middle, Tenn.-based Comprehensive Pain Management is in the midst of closing multiple locations throughout 12 states after its former CEO was indicted for Medicare fraud, the Tennessean reports. Click here to continue
Is there an impending shortage of anesthesiologists? — 7 takeaways
To explore whether there is an impending shortage of anesthesiologists, Anesthesia Business Consultants President and CEO Tony Mira reviewed new data and revealed the implications for anesthesia groups and practitioners. Click here to continue
Anesthesiologist charged with fraud, illegally distributing 6M doses of drugs — 5 details
A Michigan anesthesiologist is charged with illegal distribution of prescription drugs and defrauding insurers, MLive reports. Click here to continue
CODING AND BILLING
ASC seeks $58K in damages from Blue Cross Blue Shield — 8 insights
Cliffside Park, N.J.-based Surgery Center of Cliffside alleges Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey underpaid the center for a lesion procedure by $58,120.40, court documents show. Click here to continue
CMS proposes 2% ASC pay increase in 2019: 5 key notes
In a 761-page proposal, CMS released the 2019 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments, addressing payment factors and potential changes in the quality reporting system, according to an ASCA report. Click here to continue
Pain physician faces insurance fraud, perjury after referring workers comp cases to ASC, lab he owned: 3 key notes
Sanjoy Banerjee, MD, a pain physician in Corona, Calif., has been charged with workers compensation insurance fraud and perjury by the Riverside County District Attorney. Click here to continue
Is CMS committed to site-neutral payments? What the proposed 2019 OPPS may indicate for ASCs
CMS aims to take a step closer to site-neutral payments for outpatient procedures with the 2019 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System. Click here to continue
Medical coders are in high demand at ASCs & other facilities: Growth 2x US average
Demand for medical coders in the U.S. is expected to grow by 13 percent through 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in April. Click here to continue
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Michigan hospital sues 3 patient relatives over Facebook post: 8 things to know
The Kalkaska County Hospital Authority, the operator of Kalkaska (Mich.) Memorial Health Center, is suing three people over a Facebook post and picketing, claiming the moves caused defamation, tortious interference and an invasion of privacy, according to the Traverse City Record Eagle. Click here to continue
Dr. Atul Gawande tapped to lead Amazon, Berkshire, JPMorgan venture
Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway selected Atul Gawande, MD, a surgeon at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital and contributor to The New Yorker, to lead their healthcare company, the organizations announced June 20. Click here to continue
Colorado health system sues patient over $229K surgery bill, jury awards $766
A jury awarded Centennial, Colo.-based Centura Health $766 in a lawsuit seeking more than $229,000 from a former patient. 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
The remote healthcare job with a 6-figure salary
Public health physician supervisor was the sole healthcare position named on a list of remote jobs offering six-figure salaries, according to a report from job seeker website FlexJobs. Click here to continue