A bill approved by the New Jersey Senate Health Committee would require licensing for one-operating room surgery centers if it becomes law, according to a report from The Record.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), also calls for an increase in the frequency of inspections for these organizations.
There are more than 100 unlicensed surgery centers with only one OR in New Jersey. They are Medicare-certified and currently undergo inspections every four years, according to the report.
The New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers is working with Sen. Vitale and other stakeholders to address physical plant requirements called for in the bill, according to Jeffrey Shanton, chair, Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee, NJAASC. He says many of these one-OR surgery centers would struggle to meet the requirements, which do not impact patient safety.
The efforts of the NJAASC are focused on ensuring surgery centers in the state can continue to operate while delivering the highest quality of care possible to their patients, Mr. Shanton says.
"The NJAASC, the industry and other stakeholders are working with Sen. Vitale, the Department of Health and others on the questions raised in this bill," he says. "We are confident a resolution that is acceptable to all parties — legislature, industry and patients — will be worked out."
The bill does not seek to define these surgical practices as facilities, meaning they will be exempt from the ambulatory care facility assessment (essentially a tax on gross receipts) if the law is passed.
Read the report from The Record about New Jersey surgery centers.
Learn more about the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
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