1. Gastric banding "next big thing in elective surgery?" Venture capital firms are increasingly backing bariatric ASCs, and the two makers of surgical devices for gastric banding procedures are engaged in "fierce competition," a formula that's turning a "once-controversial weight-loss procedure into the next big thing in elective surgery," reports the Wall Street Journal in its March 31 edition. For the complete story, go here.

2. Medicare releases payment, volume, patient opinion data on Hospital Compare Web site. CMS has publicly released hospital volume and payment data along with the results of the first national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients' perspectives of hospital care. The details of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, a standardized survey instrument and data collection methodology for measuring patients' perceptions of their hospital experience, is posted at Medicare's Hospital Compare Web site. The data cover more than 2,500 hospitals nationwide and are searchable by hospital name, city, zip code, state and county. For the complete story, go here.

3. New Web site to issue digital drug and device alerts. Healthcare providers can begin signing up today for a new free service that will begin sending patient safety alerts, including medication and device recalls, via e-mail in June. Go here for the full story.

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Tom Price, a U.S. congressman and orthopedic surgeon, has again agreed to address the 6th Annual Orthopedics, Pain Management and Spine Driven ASC Conference: Improving Profits, Legal and Business Issues, to be held June 19 to 21 in Chicago. Dr. Price is a terrific supporter of ASCs.

We will also have outstanding speakers from physician and leadership perspectives. For example, Brian Cole, MD, one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in the country, will speak regarding the clinical future of orthopedics. Others such as Tom Lorish, MD, of the Providence Health System, will speak on joint-ventures; other leaders will speak on handling complex procedures in ASCs as well as on spine and pain management. All in all, there are almost 70 sessions scheduled. We've now added 30 more hotel rooms a night to our block to accommodate interest.

Here are some quick facts and highlights about the conference:

1. improving profits and business and legal issues


2. 70-plus speakers focused on strategic, practical, business and legal topics for ASCs


3. Michigan Avenue site


4. program agenda and event brochure -- www.BeckersASC.com


5. carefully selected topics to help you and your center immediately


6. networking with 500 owners, surgeons, administrators, exhibitors and speakers


7. keynote presentation on the election and healthcare by Tucker Carlson


8. outstanding pre-conference sessions


9. CME, CEU and CASC credits available


10. register before May 1 and save $100


11. additional discounts apply when registering two or more attendees


12. discounts for paid subscribers to the Becker's ASC Review

There are four easy ways to register:

• Online. Register through our secure Web site.


• Fax. Complete the order form and fax it to (312) 706-2526. Please show ASC Communications c/o a5 as the subject line.


• Mail. Complete the order form and mail it to ASC Communications; c/o a5 Inc.; 1 N. LaSalle Street, 47th Floor; Chicago IL 60602.


• Phone. Call (312) 546-6042 to register.

If you are a paid subscriber to the ASC Review, deduct $100 from the registration price.

Eight exhibit spots remain. If you are interested in exhibiting, contact Jessica Cole or Dan Bragaw.

1. Physician-owned hospital settles landmark antitrust suit against regional insurers and hospitals. Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital has reached a settlement with a group of insurers that were the defendants in the Overland Park, Kan., physician-owned hospital's landmark antitrust suit (Heartland Surgical Specialty Hosp. LLC v. Midwest Division Inc., No. 05-2164). Go here for the full story.

2. Federal government turns attention to orthopedic physicians. Six months after the federal government settled allegations of kickback payments with five device manufacturers, its long-running investigation into the orthopedics industry is now focusing on physicians, the New York Times reported March 24.. Go here for the full story.

3. CIT Group seeking overseas funding to support lending. CIT Group, the New York consumer- and commercial-finance company, is pursuing funding from an overseas bank to support its lending business, according to the March 24 Wall Street Journal. Go here for the full story.

1. Meridian Surgical seeks manager of revenue cycle. Meridian Surgical Partners, a national ASC development and management company headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., seeks a manager of revenue cycle to report directly to the CFO. The position will be based in the Brentwood, Tenn., headquarters. Responsibilities include creating and administering revenue cycle policies and procedures, including authorization and eligibility, coding, billing, collections and payment posting for all facilities. This individual will also provide training at existing and new centers. Training experience in a group/individual healthcare environment is a plus. Prior ASC knowledge is preferred. Position will require 20 to 40 percent travel on an as-needed basis and offers an excellent benefits package and salary commensurate with experience. Qualified applicants please email resume and cover letter to Susan Baker.

2. Free teleconference on ASC turnarounds April 30. On April 30, McGuireWoods will host a complimentary teleconference, "10 Keys to Turning Around Financially Troubled Ambulatory Surgery Centers: A Case Study Approach." Brent W. Lambert, MD, FACS, a principal and founder of ASCOA and Thomas Mallon, the CEO of Regent Surgical Health, will discuss the primary points to consider when turning around an ASC, including operations, management teams and physician participation. Moderated by Scott Becker, JD, CPA, the teleconference will begin at 11:30 a.m. Central and conclude at 12:45 p.m. Central. To register, please go here or e-mail Andrea Green or call her at (312) 750-8896.

3. Correction. In the March 26 edition, we incorrectly reported that the Codey bill defines a surgical practice as "an entity that is both a Medicare-certified ASC with one OR and owned entirely by physicians, or by physicians together with a hospital and/or other licensed healthcare practitioners." However, the bill language reads: "The provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection c. of this section shall apply to an ambulatory surgical facility irrespective of whether such facility is owned solely by practitioners or in conjunction with non-practitioners. All clinically-related decisions at a facility owned in part by non-practitioners shall be made by practitioners and shall be in the best interests of the patient." You can read the corrected version of the story at the Becker's ASC E-Weekly archive.

Beckers ASC Review paid subscriptions. If you are a Becker's ASC Review paid subscriber, you are entitled to the following benefits:

1. Copy of each issue delivered to your mailbox.


2. Discounts on the cost of audioconference and Webinar registrations.


3. $100 off registration for both main and pre-conference sessions at the June conference.


4. $50 off registration for both main and pre-conference sessions at the October conference.


5. Free copy of the VMG Health Intellimarker benchmarking survey, an extremely valuable guide.

To subscribe to the Becker's ASC Review go to www.BeckersASC.com.