COVID-19 Resource Center

Information from ASCA

ASCA Supports Legislation to Provide Tax Relief to ASCs

ASCA joined other healthcare associations in a letter of support for H.R. 2079, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act. This legislation is sponsored by Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Neil Dunn (R-FL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and, if enacted, would ensure that all healthcare providers will not be subject to taxes on aid they received through the Provider Relief Fund.

ASCA Continues Advocacy on Suspending Sequestration throughout the Public Health Emergency

ASCA joined other healthcare associations in asking Congress to take action to suspend Medicare sequestration throughout the duration of the public health emergency and prevent an additional four percent cut that could be enforced next year. Currently, sequestration is suspended through March 31, 2021.

ASCA Asks Congress to Suspend Sequestration throughout the Public Health Emergency

ASCA joined other healthcare associations in asking Congress to include a provision in the next coronavirus relief package that would extend the suspension of Medicare sequestration throughout the duration of the public health emergency. Currently, sequestration is suspended through March 31, 2021.

End-of-Year Legislation Signed into Law

On December 27, President Trump signed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. This legislation provides additional pandemic relief, funds the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and other agencies, and makes other programmatic changes.

ASCA Requests Inclusion of NOPAIN Act in End-of-Year Legislation

ASCA and 25 other groups are urging Congress to include the NOPAIN Act in end-of-year legislation it adopts. The legislation would remove current reimbursement barriers to the use of non-opioid pain management and increase access to and use of a wide array of medically appropriate, safe and effective opioid alternatives.

ASCA and CMS Discuss Ways to Help ASCs Assist in COVID-19 Surge Response

In conversation with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma and other senior officials, ASCA Board members suggested ways the agency can allow ASCs to take on cases being postponed in hospitals due to COVID-19 surges.

ASCA Joins Large Coalition Urging Delayed Reinstatement of Medicare’s Sequestration Cuts

ASCA and 26 other healthcare organizations requested that Congress extend the moratorium on Medicare reimbursement cuts for as long as the COVID-19 public health emergency continues.

ASCA and Others Ask Congress to Set ASC Copay Cap

ASCA, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) are urging Congress to eliminate the copay penalty that Medicare beneficiaries face when they receive certain high-cost procedures in ASCs instead of hospital outpatient departments.

New Podcast Episode: "Monitoring Patient Safety during the Pandemic"

Stuart Simon, MD, medical director of United Surgical Partners International (USPI), discusses the findings of a survey of more than 700 ambulatory surgery centers conducted this past spring that found essential surgical procedures conducted during the pandemic were performed safely, with virtually no heightened risk of patients contracting the virus either during or following their outpatient surgery.

ASCA Supports Legislation to Eliminate Tax Concerns Tied to Federal Funds

ASCA and other healthcare organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders supporting the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act (H.R. 7819 and S. 4525). If enacted, this legislation would ensure that Provider Relief Fund distributions provided in response to COVID-19 are not taxable.

Read the complete letter supporting H.R. 7819/S. 4525 and see the other organizations requesting this action.

New Podcast Episode: "The Risk of Delaying Certain Elective Surgeries"

Tom Deas, MD, a leading gastroenterologist who is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology, discusses some of the risks associated with delaying even common outpatient surgery procedures such as colonoscopies.

New Podcast Episode: "A Progress Report on Resuming Elective Surgery"

Bill Prentice, ASCA chief executive officer, and Michael Patterson, president and chief executive officer of Mississippi Valley Health in Davenport, Iowa, provide an update on the resumption of elective surgeries in ASCs, as well as the continuing challenges occurring in outpatient surgery.

ASCA Supports Re-Entry Guidance for Medical Device Representatives

ASCA has signed on to guidance developed to help healthcare providers adopt policies that will allow medical device representatives to re-enter their facilities safely.

New Podcast Episode: “Resuming Elective Surgery Part II: Volume, Pricing and the Private Insurance Market”

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA CEO Bill Prentice and Healthcare Bluebook Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Bill Kampine discuss the outlook for resuming elective surgeries and what to expect immediately and in the future regarding case volumes, pricing and commercial insurance coverage.

Medicare Suppliers May Temporarily Enroll as Labs to Help Address COVID-19 Testing

ASCs currently enrolled in Medicare may also enroll temporarily as independent clinical diagnostic laboratories during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Free Toolkit Helps ASCs Reassure Patients as Elective Surgeries Resume

ASCA members can download a free toolkit they can use to address patient concerns about infection prevention and safety in response to COVID-19.

Listen to ASCA’s Podcast Episode: "Staying Compliant with the Paycheck Protection Program"

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice is joined by John Goehle of Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies for a discussion about the responsibilities of ASCs enrolled in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

ASCA’s Federal Outreach Efforts

Listen to ASCA’s Podcast Episode: "Resuming Elective Surgery"

In this 14-minute podcast, Bill Prentice, ASCA chief executive officer, and Michael Patterson, president and chief executive officer of Mississippi Valley Health and ASCA board member, provide insightful commentary on the latest guidance available to ASCs considering resuming elective surgeries and procedures. Federal and state guidelines, recommendations from professional societies and the checklist ASCA prepared to help its members reopen their facilities are discussed.

Use ASCA’s Checklist to Help Reopen Your ASC

This checklist, developed by ASCA, is designed to help ASCs identify the key elements they need to consider as they prepare to resume in-person care of non-COVID-19 patients in regions with a low incidence of COVID-19 disease.

CMS Releases Recommendations for Reopening Healthcare Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance yesterday on restarting non-emergent non-COVID-19 healthcare.

Listen to ASCA’s Podcast Episode: "ASCs as Hospitals Without Walls"

Join Bill Prentice, ASCA chief executive officer, and Mandy Hawkins, director of the Surgery Center of Charleston and ASCA board member, as they discuss the Hospitals Without Walls program.

ASCA Statement on Resuming Elective Surgery as the COVID-19 Pandemic Recedes

ASCs should resume elective surgeries if two conditions are guaranteed.

ASCA and Others Release Statements on Resuming Elective Surgery

This guidance outlines important considerations that ASCs must evaluate before proceeding with postponed cases to ensure the safety of patients, their families and surgery center staff.

Listen to ASCA’s Podcast Episode: "Federal Financial Relief"

Join ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice and ASCA Director of Government Affairs & Regulatory Counsel Kara Newbury to hear the latest updates on the new federal financial assistance available to ASCs.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Service Expansion Checklist

This checklist, developed by ASCA, is designed to help ASCs identify the basic elements they need to consider before providing expanded services under the temporary rules and waivers the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced during the national emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding COVID-19 Response under Federal Emergency Rules: A Q&A from ASCA

ASCA discusses the federal government announcement about the new emergency rules, some of the expanded ways ASCs can support the COVID-19 response and ways ASCs can access the federal assistance they need to continue to provide safe, high-quality care to patients during and after this crisis.

Webinar Recording: COVID-19 Update

Listen to this webinar to learn more about how ASCs can participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' "Hospitals Without Walls" program announced March 30.

ASCA 2020 Postponed Due to COVID-19

CMS Expands ASCs’ Ability to Assist with COVID-19 Response

COVID-19: American Academy of Ophthalmology List of Urgent/Emergent Ophthalmology Procedures

Surge Capacity

Developed by ASCA to share with federal leaders, this document outlines scenarios in which ASCs could be activated to help handle surgical overflow from hospitals that are at treatment capacity due to COVID-19.

ASCA Tool Helps ASCs Support Community-Wide COVID-19 Response

COVID-19: American Society of Anesthesiologists Recommendations for Anesthesia Management

COVID-19: A Message to ASCs

ASC Focus Digital Debut: ASCs Implement COVID-19 Safety Measures

Webinar Recording: COVID-19 Updates for ASCs

This webinar outlines the latest updates on the federal regulatory and clinical concerns ASCs are facing.

COVID-19: Guidance for ASCs on Necessary Surgeries

COVID-19: An Interview with ASCA CEO Bill Prentice

ASC Locations, Specialties and Available ORs

Learn more about the ASCs throughout the country, the specialties they serve and the number of ORs they maintain. Need more information? Contact Kara Newbury at knewbury@ascassociation.org.

Statement from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Regarding Elective Surgery and COVID-19