Regulatory Accomplishments
CMS Repeals Same Day Surgery Provision - Persistent pressure from the ASC industry, and our congressional supporters, led to CMS removing the restriction on ASCs providing same-day surgery for patients, allowing ASCs to provide timely health care to patients.
ASCs Receive Higher than Expected Reimbursement Update - CMS took notice of the ASC industry's concerns regarding their proposed 2012 Payment Rule and increased the ASC reimbursement update from 0.9% to 1.6%.
ASC Industry Works With CMS to Postpone Quality Reporting - After vigorous objection to the start date for the CMS proposed Quality Reporting Program from the ASC industry, CMS postponed the mandatory Quality Reporting start date from January 1, 2012 to October 1, 2012.
Small Business Paperwork Elimination Act - ASCA, in conjunction with allied groups, helped to pass legislation repealing a provision of the Health Care Reform Law that would have required ASCs to file a 1099 form for every vendor they work with. This repeal halted additional paperwork requirements on already overburdened ASCs.
Legislative and Grassroots Accomplishments
ASC Quality and Access Act of 2011 (H.R. 2108/S. 1173) Introduced - ASCA worked with key members of Congress to introduce the ASC Quality and Access Act of 2011. Thanks to grassroots efforts by ASCA members and supporters, the legislation has garnered 38 supporters in the House of Representatives and five supporters in the Senate.
12 State ASC Delegations Travel to Washington, DC to Lobby Their Members of Congress - ASCA hosted 12 individual state delegations in Washington, DC during 2011. This resulted in over 100 individual meetings allowing members of the ASC community to educate their members of Congress and congressional staffs on the industry and seek co-sponsorship of the ASC Quality and Access Act.
Growing Grassroots Involvement by ASCs - Thirty ASCs hosted their member of Congress or other elected officials at their facility for a tour and to educate them about the industry. Several of these visits resulted in the member of Congress becoming a cosponsor of the ASC Quality and Access Act of 2011.
ASCs Complete Another Successful National ASC Open House Day - Three times as many ASCs across the country opened their doors this year to educate their communities, elected officials and the media about the high quality care available in local ASCs. Many ASCs had local, state and federal legislators attend.
On behalf of ASCA, I want to thank AmkaiSolutions for their support of ASCA and in helping to make 2011 such a success. We look forward to continuing to work with you in 2012 and beyond.
Sincerely,
William Prentice
Executive Director, ASCA
http://www.ascassociation.org/
