According to the report, more than 40 percent of all surgeries performed in New Jersey take place in ASCs, but only one-third of the state’s ASCs are licensed by the state.
A push for quality and cost reporting came after reports that some surgery centers in the state were allegedly charging more for procedures than hospitals, according to the report. Lawmakers are hoping that the measure will identify and address any such problem if it does exist.
The New Jersey Hospital Association supports the bill, and hospitals in the state have long accused ASCs of “cherry-picking” high-profit cases, leaving hospitals to treat low-income and Medicare patients, according to the report.
No ASCs representatives or surgery center associations were interviewed in the report.
If signed into law, the reporting requirements would go into effect in 18 months.
Read The Record’s report about the New Jersey surgery center quality reporting bill.
