Patsy Newitt

Many ASC administrators are concerned about magnified staffing strains after a CMS emergency regulation issued this month requires staff at healthcare facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Surgery Center Services of America broke ground on a multispecialty ASC in South Bend, Ind., CEO Philip Blair said Nov. 17. 

Here are six COVID-19 updates from the last week:

Construction will begin next year on an MNGI Digestive Health endoscopy center in Maple Grove, Minn.

Chesapeake Urology Associates opened an office and ASC in Annapolis, Md., this month.

Kaiser Permanente's Tysons Corner (Va.) Medical Center is operating its ASC at reduced capacity to replace equipment, among other updates, the Tysons Reporter reported Nov. 17. 

While hospitals can often offer higher salaries for physicians, ASCs can offer consistency and ownership stake. 

Medtronic's PillCam Small Bowel 3 system for remote endoscopy procedures received 510(k) clearance from the FDA, the company said Nov. 15. 

CMS solidified changes to the Open Payments program in its 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule. 

Construction is underway on a Las Vegas facility featuring an orthopedic ASC, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Nov. 16.