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The top line from the 2026 Medicare physician payment schedule proposed July 14 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reflects a welcome change after five consecutive years of cuts—an overall increase in pay for doctors. Nevertheless, there remains a need for systemic Medicare physician payment reform to ensure the sustainability of physician practices, especially those that care for patients in rural and other areas underserved by limited access to health care.
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American Medical Association (07/21/25) Kevin B. O'Reilly
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In its 2026 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPD), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to vastly expand the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL) for 2026. The agency also concurred with ASCA’s request and proposed to continue to align the ASC update factor with the one used to update HOPD payments, extending the interim period an additional calendar year through 2026. Read this Digital Debut for ASCA’s initial analysis about the proposed rule. |
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ASCA Content (07/22/25)
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Cybersecurity in healthcare has entered a new era. Threats have become more frequent, more sophisticated and more intertwined with patient care than ever before.
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HealthTech (07/10/25) Cindi Carter
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Procision's AI Voice for Pre-Op CallsPre-operative calls are essential for patient safety and surgical readiness — but they place a heavy burden on clinical staff. Procision’s new AI Voice Assistant offers a smarter, scalable way to handle these calls while maintaining a personal, voice-first experience for patients.Click here for full article and more details.
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Reports from ASCA’s 2025 Salary & Benefits Survey are now available for purchase. This survey allows ASCs to compare their compensation packages to similar ASCs, negotiate a raise, or determine salary and benefits for a new position. ASCs can benchmark their information with other ASCs from the same region, with a similar number of employees, of the same specialty, with a similar number of patient encounters and more. ASCA members pay $299 for the results and nonmembers pay $399. Facilities that completed at least 40 percent of the survey can access personalized results for free! Purchase or access your report today. |
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ASCA Content (07/22/25)
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Ethos® is Setting the Standard for Ultrasound Probe Reprocessing
Ethos provides both cleaning and high-level disinfection to soiled transvaginal, transrectal, and surface ultrasound probes in one device. Ethos is approved for use with major probe manufacturers, call us today to learn more.
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In a contemporary geographically representative cohort, the practice of [outpatient right colectomy (ORC)] increased over five years without differences in readmission rates. ORC cost increases potentially indicate an increased resource requirement to provide acute postoperative care in the ambulatory setting.
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Surgical Endoscopy (07/14/25) Drew W. Goldberg; Shane Williams; James Sharpe; et al.
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Data submission for the second quarter (Q2) of ASCA’s 2025 Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey closes next Thursday, July 31. This valuable online resource provides data you can use to improve clinical outcomes, staff indicators, billing performance and more at your facility. If you haven’t already, subscribe or submit your data today to receive valuable comparison data. ASCA members save $150 on subscriptions to the 2025 survey. |
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ASCA Content (07/22/25)
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The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) presents the finalists of the 2025 Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement (QI) Award which honors exemplary QI studies in ambulatory primary care and surgical/procedural settings. Named in memory of Bernard A. Kershner, a pioneer in ambulatory health care and former Chair of the AAAHC Institute Board of Trustees, the annual award recognizes AAAHC- Accredited organizations that have implemented meaningful improvements in their organization’s operations to boost quality of care, patient safety, and overall efficiency through QI efforts.
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AAAHC News Release (07/17/25)
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Candidates who plan to take the September Certified Administrator Surgery Center® (CASC) exam must submit their application by next Thursday, July 31. The CASC credential is a distinction earned by members of the ASC community who demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and skills required of an ASC administrator. Learn more today. |
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ASCA Content (07/22/25)
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Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most significant concerns in healthcare settings, presenting challenges in patient management and healthcare outcomes. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the landscape of infectious disease epidemiology, impacting the distribution and resistance characteristics of pathogens responsible for SSIs.
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Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (07/01/25) Siran Keske; Elif Sargin Altunok; Emel Azak; et al.
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Be sure to check out the latest edition of ASCA’s “ ASC Physician Brief,” a quarterly one-pager to share with both the owner and nonowner physicians who work in your ASC. The Summer 2025 edition touches on the latest legislation for Medicare copays, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and more. |
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ASCA Content (07/22/25)
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Getinge and Zimmer Biomet Holdings announced a strategic partnership where Zimmer Biomet will distribute Getinge’s operating room (OR) capital products to its ASC customers, according to a release. Customers will now be able to get Getinge’s infection control and surgical portfolio—surgical equipment, OR integration and lighting—with Zimmer Biomet’s joint replacement implants and surgical robotics technology from a single source.
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ASC Focus (07/14/25)
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About ASCAMission: The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is the national membership association that represents ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and provides advocacy and resources to assist ASCs in delivering high-quality, cost-effective ambulatory surgery to all the patients they serve. About Us: At ASCA, we are eager to help you become better acquainted with our nation's ASCs and the people who own and operate them. We are also eager to help you develop policies on ASC-related issues. If you have questions, please contact us. We'll put you in touch with the experts and, if you like, arrange for you to visit an ASC in your area. Contact Us: Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever or Alex Yewdell at 202.337.1897 or at advertising@ascassociation.org. Follow ASCA on
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