News

Advocacy Roundup June 2020

posted: July 10, 2020

written by board member Cathy Weaver

Hello all. I hope this note finds your business strong and you well after the spring slump we all experienced. We find ourselves on the heels of our nation’s birthday, and a time to reflect on opportunities we all have because of our home nation. It is also a time to reflect on the governance and advocacy that is a year-round effort to shape our business environment and centers.

The Medicare Loans (Cares Act) were paid out to centers in March. By accepting these funds, your center has agreed to start paying them back four months after receipt. That means for most centers, around August 1, all Medicare remittance will be withheld until the loan allocation is 100% paid back. There is a lobbying effort to extend the payback period by way of partial claw-back of remittance. More detail on this effort can be found here. Please reach out to your Washington representatives, and invite your physicians and staff to do so as well. This slower payback approach will benefit all centers.

Due to IFASC lobbying efforts, the Worker’s Compensation Fee Schedule for ASCs was defeated again in March of this year. The efforts lead by the Legislative Committee and our Lobbyist group were fast paced and intense in terms of the volume of meetings, phone calls, correspondence, and analysis request from State Legislators (not to mention the legislator direction changes that seemed weekly if not daily). We thank all of you who hosted your State Representatives, educating them on what we do and how we do it. Every bit of education and exposure helps our efforts. Workers Compensation as well as other health care bills that did not survive the 2020 session will likely be brought back in upcoming years. Now is a good time to reach out to your Representatives, have a discussion, invite them to the center and show them:

• The level of care and acuity of cases is the same as Hospital Outpatient Departments – yet we are paid up to 40% less for the same care.
• What we are required to do to maintain our State and Medicare and other credentials (same as hospitals).
• How we communicate cost transparence now to our patients (always have).
• Why we are the safer alternative for elective surgery (lower infection rate).
• How some payers are now requiring cases to be performed at an ASC vs HOPD (UHC).
• Why patients and employers prefer our care (Patient Satisfaction, return to work).

Reach out to IFASC if you have questions or want to help. Enjoy your summer and be ready for the lobbying efforts to pick back up in late fall, intensifying after January 1.