Law firm McGuireWoods has secured a CMS Stark law advisory opinion for a physician-owned hospital seeking to relocate eight miles from its current site and add an emergency department, according to a news release from the law firm. 

As ASCs handle increasingly high acuity procedures, some specialties have seen a steady migration of low-risk procedures to office-based settings. 

Physician pay has been the subject of recent controversy as yet another year of cuts from CMS adds to ongoing frustration within the physician workforce, a pattern some legislators are trying to halt. 

Three ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss how reimbursement rates affect ASC operations

Here are 10 updates on payer policies, executive moves and other news in February for ASC leaders to know: 

As the healthcare industry continues its shift toward value-based payment models, ASCs could be poised to be major beneficiaries of this transformation. 

As more high-acuity procedures continue to migrate to ASCs, some less-invasive procedures have transitioned into office-based settings.

While some physicians contemplate a shift to independent practice as satisfaction in employed settings declines, compensation remains a central concern for those considering the jump to independence. 

Rachel Yount, an attorney with Mintz specializing in federal anti-kickback statutes, Stark law, and state fraud and abuse laws, joined Becker's to discuss how Stark law enforcement evolved under the previous Trump administration and what might be expected during his return. 

The gap between physicians and payers continues to widen as administrative burdens, delayed reimbursements and restrictive policies challenge the ability to provide patient care.

Physicians are voicing growing frustration with payer policies that delay payments, deny necessary care and add administrative burdens. 

Rep. Jeff Van Drew has introduced a bill that would ban prior authorization across health plans.

The high costs of surgical implants have been identified as a profitability-killer for ASCs. 

The Department of Justice has recently intensified its efforts to combat healthcare fraud, calling for increased diligence among physicians, according to Amanda Hill, founder of Hill Health Law Group, in an article published in Bloomberg Law Feb. 11. 

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, optimizing revenue cycle performance is no longer a back-office function - it is a strategic growth driver. While revenue cycle management (RCM) isn’t the primary focus of an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) or surgery practice, a well-executed strategy overcomes many of the top challenges facing ASCs today while also fueling growth, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing patient experience – all of which enable reinvestment into the surgery center and reduce administrative burdens on the staff.

Kristi Manutai, RN, regional administrator for Redding, Calif.-based North State Surgery Centers, joined Becker's to discuss how payer issues are creating significant financial and operational challenges for smaller ASCs.

Certificate-of-need laws, which regulate the establishment and expansion of healthcare facilities, continue to be a significant hurdle for ASCs in many states. 

Gastrointestinal and spinal procedures are among the fastest-growing services at ASCs, according to VMG Health's "ASCs in 2024: A Year in Review" report.

The number of independently-owned ASCs dropped to 67%, down from 68% in 2023, according to VMG Health's "ASCs in 2024: A Year in Review" report.

Capsule cataract removal without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is the most common procedure performed at ASCs in 2024, according to VMG Health's "ASCs in 2024: A Year in Review" report.