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The American College of Surgeons and 33 medical organizations asked the United States Congress Monday to step in and stop a portion of a payment rule recently finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that implements a 2.5% reduction in payments in 2026, with additional reductions likely every 3 years indefinitely. This “efficiency adjustment” will cause further decreases in reimbursement for physician services and have wide-ranging consequences, including significant financial pressures that could limit patient access to medical care, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.
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American College of Surgeons (11/03/25)
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Renew your ASCA membership online today! With your membership comes a variety of benefits that help you run your ASC more efficiently, provide quality patient care, and stay up to date on industry trends and regulations. ASCA membership includes complimentary access to all of ASCA’s virtual education programs and —new in 2026—ASCA’s Clinical & Operational Benchmarking Survey. Not yet a member? Join now!
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ASCA Content (11/11/25)
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Is it hard to tell if your ASC team is busy saving lives or chasing a signature? With HST’s EMR, e-signatures and task alerts guarantee 100% chart completion and real-time compliance. Every signature, every chart, every time. Plus, staff can chart at the same time on multiple devices in the same chart.Focus on patient care, not paperwork.Book a demo and see how.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is tackling high drug prices and protecting the American taxpayers through a landmark Innovation Center initiative designed to lower prescription drug spending in Medicaid, improve health outcomes by increasing access to critical medications, and strengthen the Medicaid program overall. State Medicaid programs that choose to participate in the GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid (GENEROUS) Model will be able to purchase drugs included in the pilot at prices aligned with those paid in select other countries, allowing Americans to benefit from fairer, more competitive pricing.
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CMS Press Release (11/06/25)
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When cases require IONM, SpecialtyCare is the partner you can count on. Our nationwide network of expert neurophysiologists ensures reliable coverage for your ASC, even in complex cases. We seamlessly integrate with your surgical teams to provide consistent, expert monitoring—reducing risk, avoiding costly complications, and supporting your surgeons when it matters most.
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Make plans to join us next spring at the ASCA + SAMBA Conference & Expo, May 13–16 in Washington, DC. New for 2026, the conference will feature SAMBA, the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. This exciting collaboration brings together ASC clinical and operational leaders with experts in outpatient anesthesia to offer a richer, more interdisciplinary learning and networking experience for the entire ASC community. Register by December 31 to get the best rate! |
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ASCA Content (11/11/25)
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Procision's AI Powered Patient CommunicationsTraditional patient communication is broken—calls go unanswered, messages get missed, and staff are stretched thin. Discover how AI is closing the gap with smarter, more personal outreach that patients actually respond to.Click here for full article and more details
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Enough Senate Democrats are poised to accept a deal to reopen the government without a concrete agreement to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies — but with the promise of a showdown vote on the assistance next month. The promised Senate vote on the ACA, on a bill of Democrats' choosing, is set to occur by the end of the second week in December, setting up a crucial period during which senators could delink the enhanced tax credits from government funding and try to reach a deal on eligibility changes that are more acceptable to Republicans.
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Axios (11/10/25) Peter Sullivan
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Join the next Regulatory Series session to learn about major trends and enactments across the 50 states in 2025 and how they could impact your ASC. This session is available exclusively to ASCA members and registration is required. It is scheduled for next Tuesday, November 18, at 1:00 pm ET, and will be available on demand afterward. Continuing education is not provided. |
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ASCA Content (11/11/25)
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The findings of this cohort study suggest that facility-based [colorectal cancer] screening among adults aged 45 to 49 years increased nearly 10-fold following [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] guideline changes, far exceeding growth among those aged 50 to 75 years. This rapid adoption highlights early implementation by practitioners and patients.
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JAMA Network Open (11/04/25) Alyssa H. Harris; Hannah R. Murphy; Madeleine McDowell; et al.
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In this ASCA Audio Update, ASCA Associate Director of Public & Regulatory Affairs Alex Taira summarizes key elements of the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. While the MPFS does not directly affect ASC reimbursements, its implications are of significant concern to ASCs, their physician practitioners and the patients they serve. |
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ASCA Content (11/11/25)
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Surgical site infections remain among the most consequential and costly complications in surgery. Their persistence reflects the expanding threat of multidrug-resistant organisms and the practical limits of even increasingly data-driven, systems-level prevention programs.
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Cureus (10/17/25) Raghunath Prabhu; Mohamed S. Mohamed; Tariq Alhammali; et al.
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Opioid stewardship is an integral part of delivering high quality surgical care for children. In 2019, the [American College of Surgeons] published the Safe and Effective Pain Control After Surgery for Children and Teens brochure, dovetailing work done alongside the American Pediatric Surgical Association to develop the first guidelines for postoperative opioid prescribing for children. The landscape has evolved significantly since those guidelines were developed, with a rapid expansion of research, health policy, and quality improvement efforts to ensure opioid stewardship delivery in everyday surgical practice.
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American College of Surgeons (11/04/25) Lorraine I. Kelley-Quon
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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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