Some ASC leaders think President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan could be a win for ASCs. 

More high-acuity, high-reimbursing procedures are moving to outpatient settings, presenting a major financial opportunity for surgery centers.

A Las Vegas physician filed a criminal complaint against a former employee, alleging the employee diverted funds and obtained fraudulent loans in the physician's name, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The pandemic delayed patients' preventive screenings and elective procedures, which ASCs experienced firsthand. Some ASC leaders think President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief law could help mitigate those losses.

The Justice Department is investigating emails from Physician Partners of America, a Tampa, Fla.-based physician practice and ASC chain, according to a Tampa Bay Times report.

From Medicaid work requirements to joint ventures, here are six updates from top health insurers in March:

Nearly 11.5 million people purchased health insurance in 2020 through a state marketplace, also known as individual health insurance, according to ValuePenguin, a resource for consumer financial decisions.

Healthcare is front of mind for lawmakers and government agencies on Capitol Hill as a new bill extending the moratorium on Medicare pay cuts makes its way through Congress and HHS aims to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Jamie Heater, RN, Compass Surgical Partners' vice president of facility development, and Will Holding, Compass' vice president of development, joined the "Becker's Spine & Orthopedics Podcast" to outline how Compass is preparing for the increase in CMS procedure approval. 

UnitedHealthcare is the largest insurer in the U.S., according to a March 2021 Value Penguin report. 

Incomplete and inaccurate documentation can hinder appropriate and timely reimbursement, placing an ASC's financial stability at risk. 

During Becker's Orthopedic, Spine + ASC Virtual Event on March 18, two industry leaders discussed the migration of spine and orthopedic procedures to surgery centers and how they are looking at growth in 2021.

A new report from the American Medical Association lists ophthalmology and gastroenterology in the top five largest drops in CMS physician spending during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

CMS has approved ASCs as a site of service for transcervical uterine fibroid ablation — a minimally invasive procedure for symptomatic uterine fibroids that can be performed with the Sonata System developed by women's healthcare company Gynesonics.

ASCs play an important role in the value-based care environment and more are considering bundled payments as part of their strategy.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, an independent congressional agency advising Congress on Medicare-related issues, recommended several changes for ASCs next year in its annual report to Congress, released March 15.

WalletHub released its "2021's States with the Most and Least Medicaid Coverage" list March 15, analyzing Medicaid coverage and spending across the U.S.

When a patient checks in to see a new healthcare provider, there is the inevitable package of new patient paperwork. Along with the patient health history forms and HIPPA disclosures, there may also be a financial policy.

Physician-owned ASCs and practices reported revenue declines in 2020 and lower Medicare spending when elective procedures were canceled or postponed during the pandemic. Revenue declines continued after elected procedures resumed at facilities across the U.S.

Medicare reimbursement for the 10 highest-volume procedures performed in ASCs is projected to increase 2.8 percent this year, according to a report from VMG Health.