Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1199901
17 SPINE SURGEONS CMS eliminates ASC hospital transfer agreement requirement in new rule By Laura Dyrda A new CMS rule will make it easier for ASCs to run efficient and effective operations. CMS released its final rule on Sept. 25: "Regulatory Provisions to Promote Pro- gram Efficiency, Transparency, and Burden Reduction," which is expected to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete compliance require- ments for healthcare providers. e agency estimates that changes could save $843 mil- lion within the first year of implementation. ASCA has spent several years working with CMS to address concerns related to the provi- sions of this final rule. "We are pleased to see this support for patient access to ASCs and look forward to working with CMS on other initia- tives that will enable Medicare patients to take fuller advantage of top-quality, lower cost care ASCs deliver," said Kara Newbury, ASCA Di- rector of Government & Regulatory Counsel. e new rule went into effect Nov. 29. As a result of the new rule: 1. Ambulatory surgery centers don't have to have a written transfer agreement or hospital planning privileges for all physicians. Centers need to provide hospitals with a document that includes information about operation and their patient population. 2. CMS is working on a final proposal to re- quire ASCs to create a policy for identifying patients that need a medical history and phys- ical examination before surgery, instead of re- quiring this from all patients 30 days prior to the procedure. 3. ASCs are allowed to review their emergen- cy preparedness plan every two years instead of every year, and they don't need to contact local, tribal, regional, state and federal emer- gency preparedness officials as part of their plan. e training for emergency prepared- ness is now only required every two years as well, instead of annually. "is rule makes it easier for ambulatory sur- gery centers to remain efficient and afford- able providers of outpatient surgery without compromising their commitment to patient safety," said ASCA CEO William Prentice. n DOJ alleges Dr. Wilson Asfora performed unnecessary spinal surgeries: 4 details By Laura Dyrda L ate on Nov. 13, the Department of Justice filed a complaint that alleges former Sanford Health neurosurgeon Wilson Asfora, MD, profited from performing "aggressive, unneces- sary surgeries" and implanting devices from a company he had ownership in, according to the Argus Leader. Four key notes: 1. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based health system paid more than $20 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit in October over the al- leged anti-kickback violation. Now, the federal government is al- leging Dr. Asfora performed unnecessary surgeries at both San- ford Medical Center and Sioux Falls (S.D.) Specialty Hospital. 2. The federal complaint also alleges that patients were harmed by the unnecessary procedures, including patients that were para- lyzed or had wrong-site procedures. 3. Dr. Asfora received warnings that he was performing excessive, aggressive and unnecessary procedures, according to the com- plaint, which included warnings from other medical professionals as well as Dr. Asfora's lawyers. 4. Dr. Asfora attempted to hide his ownership of the medical de- vice company from both hospitals, according to the complaint. n 10 highest paid physician specialties — Neurosurgery is No. 1 at $600K+ By Rachel Popa A new study from physician networking site Doximity examined physician employment, job demand and salary data. Doximity examined 27,000 physician jobs posted on Doximity in 2018 and 2019, as well as 70,000 survey responses from physicians. Ten salary statistics to know: 1. Neurosurgery: $616,823 2. Thoracic surgery: $584,287 3. Orthopedic surgery: $526,385 4. Radiation oncology: $486,089 5. Vascular surgery: $484,740 6. Dermatology: $455,255 7. Cardiology: $453,515 8. Plastic surgery: $433,060 9. Gastroenterology: $431,767 10. Radiology: $428,572 n