Here are seven news updates for ambulatory surgery center leaders to know for Jan. 20, 2015.
CMS' Marilyn Tavenner to step down.
CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced Friday she will resign at the end of February. Ms. Tavenner's resignation comes without forewarning; she had not previously indicated plans to step down. Read the full report on Becker's Hospital Review.
Hospital associations oppose bill proposing 3-day stays in ASCs.
Eric Boley, past chairman of the Wyoming Hospital Association, told his Washington legislators at a recent community meeting that he was opposed to a bill allowing surgery centers the ability to provide up to three days of convalescent care. Read the full report on Becker's ASC Review.
St. Rose ASC joint venture formalized.
Hays (Kan.) Medical Center and Centura Health, based in Garden City, Kan., have finalized their agreement to co-own St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgical Center in Great Bend, Kan. With the completion of the joint venture, the ASC has been renamed St. Rose Health Center. Leanne Irsik serves as the administrator of the facility.
Rex Healthcare to convert hospital-based center into ASC.
Rex Healthcare recently inked a deal that will change a hospital-based surgery facility in Wakefield, N.C., into an ambulatory surgery center. Rex, a subsidiary of the UNC Healthcare system, will begin recruiting 25 to 30 doctors to form a joint venture to operate the new ASC, which will be named the Rex Surgery Center of Wakefield.
More than half of Americans struggling with medical debt.
About 70 percent of households in the United States are struggling with their medical bills. A more alarming fact from a recent report from Kaiser Family Foundation, shows that 48 percent of Americans would have to sell something or take out a loan to afford an emergency that cost them $400 or more. Read the full report on Becker's ASC Review.
Physicians Realty Trust acquires West Tennessee Bone & Joint buildings.
Physicians Realty Trust, a self-managed healthcare properties REIT, closed $81.7 million of medical facility investments in November and December 2014. One of these investments was in West Tennessee Bone and Joint in Jackson. The company purchased two adjacent buildings for $9.9 million. The two buildings are a combined 36,494 square feet.
Hospital for Special Surgery to open $12.6M outpatient center.
Hospital for Special Surgery in New York plans to open a $12.6 million outpatient facility in Stamford, Conn. The 18,000-square-foot facility is expected to open next month.