7 things for ASC leaders to know for Thursday

Carrie Pallardy -

Here are seven news updates for ambulatory surgery center leaders to know for July 31, 2014.

U.S. ranks 25th in international physician count.
The United States has only 2.5 practicing physicians per 1,000 people, putting it 25th in terms of physician count per capita among international peers. Greece leads the world with 6.2 practicing physicians per 1,000 people. Read the full report on Becker's Hospital Review.

Surgery Center of Oklahoma saves $600k for local government.
Oklahoma City-based Surgery Center of Oklahoma saved the Oklahoma County government approximately $573,000 in medical bills in the five months of its agreement with the county to provide surgery for public employees. As of July 17, the ASC has performed 89 surgeries on public employees at a cost of nearly $336,000, just over one-third of the potential total cost of the surgeries through other providers.

Health Net allows joint replacements in select California ASCs.
Health Net Medical Director Michael Fine, MD, recommended the Health Net Medical Advisory Committee allow some minimally invasive knee and hip replacements performed in ambulatory surgery centers for commercial members after meeting with the California Ambulatory Surgery Association Board and ASC leaders.

Two Tennessee endoscopy centers, MDSave partner for bundled payments.
Associated Endoscopy in Hermitage, Tenn., and St. Thomas Medical Group Endoscopy Center in Nashville, Tenn., have partnered with MDSave to create a colonoscopy bundled pricing program. The pilot program's bundled price will include all costs associated with the procedure, including any biopsies. The new pilot program will offer a bundled rate of $1,795.   

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian opens Florida ASC.
Ara Deukmedjian, MD, has opened the Surgery Center of Viera in Melbourne, Fla. The surgery center offers spine surgery, including Deuk Laser Disc Repair. The procedure, designed as a minimally invasive alternative for neck and back pain, was developed by Dr. Deukmedjian

Physician and payer value-based payment perspective widely differs.
A new study released by FTI Consulting has found a disparity between payers and physicians when it comes to value-based payment models. Only 16 percent of physicians were willing to accept the required financial risk, but 80 percent of payers say value-based contracts are "very important" for overall strategy.

Northstar Healthcare reorganizes leadership.
Northstar Healthcare appointed Harry Fleming, MBA, as its president. Mr. Fleming was previously CFO. Vice president of finance Andy Chen will now step into the CFO role.

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