Here’s what you should know:
1. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, D, had proposed a 2.81 percent tax on net patient revenue for ASCs and endoscopy centers. The budget he approved June 22 does not include the tax.
2. The Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association led a coalition of 17 state-based medical societies, including PAMED, to oppose the tax.
3. The proposal could have created an annual tax burden of approximately $100,000 for each ASC in the state, according to the coalition.
4. The new budget allocates millions of dollars to certain healthcare services, including:
- $4.5 million to home-visiting services for families affected by opioid use disorder.
- $2.5 million for Lyme disease prevention and education initiatives.
- More than $3 million to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
- More than $662,000 to the managed care program Community HealthChoices.
For more details on the 2018-2019 budget, visit the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget website.
More articles on surgery centers:
Congressional action on Stark Law is critical to developing value-based healthcare
How New Jersey’s Healthcare Facilities Planning Act relates to ASCs — 4 quick facts
Stark Law under the spotlight as CMS seeks to ease self-referral regulatory burden, MedPAC cracks down on PODs
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.