Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1117375
10 ASC MANAGEMENT Class action suits look for answers after Laser Spine Institute's abrupt closure — 6 insights By Eric Oliver T he ramifications of Tampa, Fla.-based Laser Spine Institute's abrupt closure were vast, with employees and patients le searching for answers, the Tampa Bay Times reports. What you should know: 1. Two class action lawsuits — one repre- senting up to 1,000 employees across the U.S. — were filed in Tampa on behalf of the organization's employees. e suits alleged Laser Spine Institute violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act by not giving employees at least 60-days' notice. 2. Laser Spine Institute laid off its entire workforce the same day it ceased operations March 1. 3. e class action suits seek 60 days' pay and benefits from the company. 4. Laser Spine Institute cited a lack of fund- ing as the reason behind its closure. Before closing, the practice reached out to other surgical providers to see if they could accom- modate patients with scheduled surgeries or patients seeking postoperative consults. 5. Several competing practices or providers worked to help the former employees and patients. Tampa-based Physicians Partners of America held a job fair March 6 for former Laser Spine Institute employees and PPA is working to accommodate patients. 6. Spine Center Atlanta, too, is working to accommodate former patients. "We can take virtual spine appointments from literally anywhere. If they like what they hear, they can fly here for surgery," Spine Center America Founder James Chappuis, MD, told the Tampa Bay Times. "If a patient recently had surgery and needs postop follow-up care, we are willing to do that free of charge. It just seems like the right thing to do." Atlanta-based Resurgens Spine Center also accepted former Laser Spine Institute pa- tients. Resurgens offered expedited appoint- ments and assisted with getting a patient's medical files. n HCA Healthcare recruits 1,000+ displaced Laser Spine Institute employees By Angie Stewart H CA Healthcare's West Florida Division in Palm Harbor ex- tended support to the 1,000- plus employees who lost their jobs when Tampa, Fla.-based Laser Spine Institute discontinued operations March 1. HCA's West Florida Division held a re- cruitment event for former Laser Spine Institute employees in mid-March, ac- cording to HCA Healthcare Recruitment Marketing Specialist Linda Almanzo. Displaced Laser Spine Institute employ- ees were encouraged to seek clinical and non-clinical opportunities within HCA's 15 hospitals and 14 surgery cen- ters in West Florida. Tampa-based Physician Partners of America also held a job fair for former Laser Spine Institute employees March 6. n 10 states with the most Medicare- certified ASCs | 2019 By Rachel Popa T he Ambulatory Surgery Center Association used 2018 CMS data from June to illustrate the number of ASCs in each state. Here are the 10 states with the most Medicare-certified ASCs: 1. California: 794 2. Florida: 426 3. Texas: 391 4. Georgia: 350 5. Maryland: 346 6. New Jersey: 259 7. Pennsylvania: 244 8. Washington: 188 9. Ohio: 181 10. Arizona: 181 n 10 states with the least Medicare- certified ASCs | 2019 By Rachel Popa T he Ambulatory Surgery Center Association used 2018 CMS data from June to illustrate the number of ASCs in each state. Here are the 10 states with the least amount of Medicare-certified ASCs: 50. Vermont: 1 49. Rhode Island: 10 48. West Virginia: 10 47. Alaska: 16 46. Maine: 16 45. Montana: 17 T-44. South Dakota: 17 T-44. New Mexico: 17 43. Wyoming: 18 42. Hawaii: 21 41. Delaware: 24 n