Fargo, N.D.-based Center for Special Surgery Administrator Jed LaPlante shared his insights on the future of the ASC industry and the biggest growth opportunities on the horizon.
Note: Responses have been edited for clarity and style.
Question: What is the biggest growth opportunity you see for ASCs in 2019? As an ASC leader, how do you hope to capitalize on growth opportunities?
Jed LaPlante: As a relatively new ASC that's just starting its fourth year of existence, I find us in a position where our growth will level out more than it has in the past. We've already implemented an outpatient total joint program that has been a big patient satisfier, and we also perform a relatively high volume of ophthalmic and ENT cases. I believe our biggest opportunity for growth is to continue to work with the local payers to show them what we can do for them financially and what we can do for their members from a quality and patient satisfaction standpoint. I believe payers need to approach insurance plan design in a way that rewards patients for choosing low-cost, high-quality providers like us. This could mean deductible and copays are waived for choosing ASCs over hospitals or at the very least continue to include us in narrow networks so patients are not funneled to high-cost facilities within our community.
Q: What are the greatest challenges you expect to face in 2019?
JL: Our biggest challenge is the lack of independent providers in our community. If we were to lose one or two of our current surgeons, we would be left searching for independent surgeons from other geographic areas. To recruit to Fargo, N.D., with no guaranteed salary like hospitals [offer]will likely prove to be difficult.
Q: How do you see the ASC industry growing in the next five to 10 years?
JL: I truly believe Medicare making a couple of big decisions over the next few years will spark massive growth in our industry. Once total joint replacement is approved in the ASC setting and it's paid at a reasonable rate, surgery centers providing orthopedic services have the potential to grow exponentially. In addition to addressing total joint replacement, I think neutral site payments need to be considered sooner rather than later. Once Medicare recognizes through policy that hospitals are not the best place of service for many of the procedures we perform, I think you'll see the reimbursement level out between ASCs and hospital outpatient departments, which will either incentivize hospitals to work more closely with ASCs through joint venture or enter the ASC market all on their own.