Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2011 Introduced in House

Rachel Fields -

U.S. Representatives Pete Sessions (R-Texas), John Larson (D-Conn.), Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2011 on Friday, according to an ASCA release.

The legislation aims to preserve patient access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services that ASCs provide. The bill would put into place policies to establish reasonable Medicare reimbursement for ASCs while encouraging additional cost savings for Medicare. It would help "modernize" the way ASCs are paid by tying ASC Medicare payment updates to the Hospital Market Basket, rather than to the volatile Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.

The legislation would also require implementation of a value-based purchasing program for ASCs.

The ASC Association asks members to send a letter to their members of Congress, asking them to become co-sponsors of the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2011. Click here to send a letter.

Click here for a detailed summary of the bill.

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