The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has submitted formal comments to CMS on the 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule. The ACC states that its letter includes: Support for increased reimbursement for cardiac PET/CT services Support for maintaining higher reimbursement…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a consent order involving Ascension’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of AMSURG. The FTC’s final consent order requires Ascension to divest seven AMSURG ASCs across Nashville, Tenn.; Panama City, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Waco, Texas and Wichita, Kan. Six of the centers will be divested…
A new report jointly published by KFF Health News and NPR takes a closer look at how “violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages” are fueling hospital strikes. Some takeaways from the story: “The prevalence of workplace violence in healthcare has fueled strikes in states such as Louisiana, New York,…
A new report in Delaware Business Now dives deeply into what the media outlet describes as a “turf war” between two of the state’s health systems for preeminence in the southern part of The First State. Wilmington-based ChristianaCare dominates more populous northern Delaware, while the incumbent health system in more rural…
It’s National ASC Month, and Periop Leader Network is offering ASC leaders a special discount code to attend Periop Leader Week in Savannah, Ga., taking place this October 4 to 7. Register for Periop Leader Week now and use promo code ASCMONTH for 25% off passes to our annual gathering…
Integrated Surgical Center of Arizona (ISCA) has joined the network of ASC developer and operator Regent Surgical. Located in Avondale, Ariz., ISCA is a multispecialty ASC led by three Arizona physician organizations: IMS Care, described as Arizona’s “largest independent multispecialty physician group”; AZ Heart Arrhythmia Associates; and Valley GI Consultants.…
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has launched a patient education resource called Anesthesia Answers, which it states was created by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurse anesthesiologists to “help patients and their families navigate one of healthcare's most misunderstood topics: anesthesia.” Available at AnesthesiaAnswers.org, it addresses common…
The University of Colorado Anschutz (CU Anschutz) has published an article that describes how its team of hospitalists is partnering with surgeons to make the patient experience and process for major procedures “easier, safer, and more accessible.” The Medicine Consult Service is a service line within the Division of Hospital…
Responding to the reported medication errors that harmed patients who were undergoing joint replacement surgeries at a Nashville hospital, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Friday “reaffirmed that spinal anesthesia remains a safe and essential…
A devastating medication error that impacted four surgical patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, Tenn., received a large amount of mainstream media attention over the last week—reminding perioperative leaders of the critical importance of medication safety protocols. CBS News affiliate WTVF-TV reported that “at least four people went…
