Becker's ASC Review

5 Key Thoughts on Payer Strategy for ASCs — Risk-Sharing, Narrow Networks & Payer Consolidation By Laura Dyrda ASCs are developing new payer strategies as the health- care market evolves toward value-based care. "ere is tremendous pressure on healthcare costs that can naturally pressure health plans to seek unit cost re- ductions," says Brian Mathis, senior vice president, strat- egy and payment innovation at Surgical Care Affiliates. How to Remain an Independent ASC in 2016 By Megan Wood Overwhelmed by a competitive healthcare market, many ASCs seek assistance through a hospital partnership or third-party management company to stay afloat. But some surgery centers face the industry's challenges alone, and won't relinquish independence anytime soon. e Surgery Center of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City is one such independent ASC. e surgery center opened as a physician-owned establishment in 1997 and has re- mained so since the beginning. It is a multispecialty cen- ter with eight types of specialists and owned by about 40 surgeons and anesthesiologists. One of the most desirable specialties for ambulatory sur- gery centers continues to be orthopedics. In the Health- Care Appraisers 2013 ASC Valuation Survey, 100 percent of ASC company respondents reported orthopedics and sports medicine as attractive specialties; 94 percent found orthopedic spine attractive. Orthopedics continues as one of the most sought-aer specialties today for multispecialty centers as well as new single-specialty facilities. e types of orthopedic cases are growing as well; surgeons who once stuck to knee ar- throscopies and wrist surgeries in the ASC are now able to perform partial and total knee replacements. Spine surgeons have been doing decompressions outpatient for years; now they're able to perform anterior cervical discectomy and fusion along with disc replacements and multi-level cases. New technology and pain management techniques allow patients to recover from surgeries more quickly and re- turn home within 24 hours of complex orthopedic pro- cedures. And for now, the orthopedic cases continue to drive higher reimbursement rates, although orthopedics centers need skillful contract negotiators and committed partners to cover the costs for larger procedures. is list details 90 orthopedic- and spine-driven ASCs in the United States. continued on page 14 continued on page 16 continued on page 28 90 Orthopedic-Driven ASCs to Know By Anuja Vaidya, Mary Rechtoris, Allison Sobczak, Megan Wood Inside the issue: 30 Points on ASC Employee, Physician Compensation This article includes key statistics and philosophies behind ASC employee pay and physician compensation for key specialties. p. 12 What Payer Consolidation Means for ASCs Meridian Surgical Partners' Jamison Pearlman discusses payer consolidation and how to conduct business moving forward. p. 18 Medical Errors — 10 Key Notes Here are 10 things to know about medical errors. p. 55 ACOs for ASCs Eleven key concepts on accountable care organizations for ASC leaders. p. 6 Becker's 14th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine June 9-11, 2016 at Swissôtel, Chicago Don't miss 124 Physician Speakers and 117 Sessions Keynote Speakers: Lou Holtz & Tucker Carlson For more information, visit www.beckersspine.com or call (800) 417-2035. SAVE THE DATE INSIDE: Becker's 14th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine Brochure March/April 2016 • Vol. 2016 No. 3

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