Devin Nunes (R-CA) and John Larson (D-CT) introduced the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2015, which fixes the law allowing CMS to use different inflation measures for ASCs and hospital outpatient programs when settling rates. The bill also requires quality reporting transparency; CMS would add an ASC community representative to the advisory panel on hospital outpatient payment and would have to disclose why they may decide to not include a procedure on the ASC payable list.
The South Dakota legislative session passed a $4.3 billion budget. Many providers will see an increase of up to 2.5 percent in mental health centers, nursing homes and other Medicaid-reliant facilities.
New legislation (HB 999 and SB 1394) could allow ambulatory surgery centers in Florida to take on 23-hour stays. The legislation, introduced in Tallahassee, is sponsored by Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (R-78) and Senator Audrey Gibson (D-9).
The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation currently project that PPACA provisions will result in $1.2 billion net cost to the federal government from 2016 to 2025, which is 11 percent less than the agencies estimated in January 2015.
In North Carolina, House Bill 200 aims to remove ASCs from certificate of need regulation. The bill is sponsored by Representative Marilyn Avila (R) and has already been brought before three House committees.
A $210B Medicare deal looks to permanently replace the sustainable growth rate, and was introduced by bipartisan committee leaders in the House and Senate. Physicians will see a 21 percent cut to their Medicare payments April 1 under the SGR if congressional action isn't taken by the end of the month.