Here are seven news updates for ambulatory surgery center leaders to know for July 13, 2015.
CMS names 11 new procedures for the ASC payable list in 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed adding 11 new procedures to the ASC payable list next year. New codes will be introduced for various procedures, including spine and laparoscopy. Read the full report on Becker's ASC Review.
Healthcare price transparency woefully inadequate in majority of states
Forty-five out of 50 states failed to provide adequate healthcare price transparency, according to the Report Card on State Price Transparency Laws – July 2015 from the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute and Catalyst for Payment Reform. New Hampshire is the only state to receive an 'A' grade in the report card. Colorado and Maine received 'B' grades; and Vermont and Virginia received 'C' grades. All other states received an 'F' grade.
CMS proposes colonoscopy payment cuts for 2016
CMS has released the 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, which includes cuts for colonoscopy and other lower GI/endoscopy procedures, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. The reimbursement cuts for the colonoscopy family procedures could be up to 19 percent. Read the full report on Becker's ASC Review.
Northeast Missouri ASC celebrates 15 years
Northeast Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center in Hannibal will celebrate its 15th anniversary on July 10, according to a Hannibal-Courier Post report. The surgery center is a joint venture between Hannibal Clinic and B&B Enterprises and performs about 4,600 annual procedures.
Excelsior Orthopaedics to officially break ground on $9.5M ASC: 5 key points
Excelsior Orthopaedics, based in Buffalo, N.Y., will officially break ground on its new, $9.5 million ambulatory surgery center in Amherst, N.Y. The physician group partnered with Matrix Development to build the new surgery center, which will be one story and 27,175 square-feet.
Nobilis Health's names Kenny Klein as new CFO
Mr. Klein will take over the day-to-day CFO responsibilities. He previously served as Nobilis' Chief Accounting Officer since April 2015. Andy Chen, Nobilis' outgoing CFO, will assume revenue cycle and development responsibilities with the company as its executive vice president of finance.
CMS to test new colonoscopy quality measure for ASCs through July 31
The "7-day risk-standardized hospital visit after outpatient colonoscopy" measure is new to the CMS ASC Quality Reporting Program. ASCs and HOPDs will be required to collect data on this measure in CY 2016. CY 2018 payments will be impacted by the data collection, according to the report.