ASC INDUSTRY NEWS
May 2025
ASC Operators Could Face CMS Reimbursement Delays Amid Workforce Reductions, HHS Overhaul
In an effort to combat waste, fraud and abuse, HHS will reduce their workforce and number of committees. According to HHS, these responsibilities are being consolidated and not eliminated and will not interfere with essential services. While the reduction in manpower is not expected to slow the CMS certification process, the ability of CMS to conduct surprise surveys may be impacted, as well as timely reimbursements.
Source: ASC News
ALERT: Medication Vial Coring Poses Potential Fragmentation Risks
An alert released from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) and ECRI/Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) states there is a potential risk of injecting particles of rubber vial stoppers into patients when the vials are pierced by needles. “Coring” can occur when a piece of the rubber is detached from the stopper, which can also contaminate the medication. While this phenomenon is not new, APSF and ECRI/ISMP are working to offer recommendations for safer practices. In the meantime, any incidents of coring should be reported to ISMP immediately.
Source: AORN
CON Laws Under Fire: Ambulatory Surgery Centers Demand Free-Market Growth
Multiple states which have CON laws are considering a change. Initially implemented to reduce cost and redundancies as well as maintain competition in the market, these laws are a significant barrier to new development, as the process is slower and more expensive.. As the outpatient sector continues to grow and patients demand value-based healthcare, CON laws may be diminished or sunsetted entirely in many states.
Source: ASC News
CMS Finalizes ASC-24 in 2025 Rulemaking
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released three new health equity measure for the ASC Quality Reporting Program which focus on social drivers of health and equity in the ASC setting. While these measures have not been tested in the outpatient demographic, the data is to be collected in calendar year 2025 and reported in 2026, with payment determinations for 2027 potentially impacted for noncompliance. ASCA is actively requesting all three measures be removed or suspended from the ASCQR program, as these determinations are not always feasible to collect for an ASC setting.
Source: ASC Focus
‘Pit Crew’ Approach Slashes OR Turnover Time, Boosts ASC Efficiency
Efficiency is key for ASC success. HST Pathways conducted a deep dive into OR efficiency trends in 590 ASCs across the country. This research found that ASCs which implemented a “pit crew” approach had improved turnover times and overall efficiency. These “pit crews” were staff members dedicated solely to cleaning and setting up the ORs between cases. This report additionally found that 2 OR centers had higher utilization rates and were more efficient overall, when compared to larger centers. As each minute counts, ASCs have also begun to implement “first case start on time” policies, which leads to a trickle-down effect of efficient OR use throughout the day. Overall this report suggests that smaller centers are more efficient and thriving, while larger ones may be facing significant headwinds.
Source: ASC News
