The article pertains to Green Mountain Care Board’s decision on whether to approve Green Mountain Surgery Center, a proposal starkly opposed by the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. The hospital association says the independent ASC in Colchester, Va., would be unregulated and therefore could not provide the highest quality care at a reduced cost.
Mr. Silverstein cited an article JAMA published in April titled “Making Healthcare Markets Work — Competition Policy for Health Care.” The study authors say despite competition improving patient choice, bolstering quality of care and lowering costs, there is a dearth of actionable policy recommendations despite ones that the Federal Trade Commission issued.
Independent practices also may improve quality and generate major savings. In a 2016 Wall Street Journal article, Bob Kocher, MD, a former adviser to the Obama administration on healthcare policy, said “Over the past five years, published research … has indicated that savings and quality improvement are generated much more often by independent primary-care doctors than by large hospital-centric health systems.”
Additionally, JAMA published a 2016 study finding primary care group-led ACOs had more savings than ACOs associated with hospitals.
Based on the wealth of research affirming the benefits on independent practice, Mr. Silverstein said officials should assess the literature and see if the proposal for the independent ASC would benefit the region.
More articles on surgery centers:
Illinois-based endoscopy center to break ground in early 2018
Kettering Health Network to build hospital with surgery center: 5 points
Stock market week-in-review for 4 large ASC chains — July 3-July 7
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
