Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1199901
31 OUTPATIENT SURGERY As hospitals plan to sue, physician organization applauds new HHS price transparency rule By Angie Stewart T he Association of American Physicians and Surgeons came out in support of the price trans- parency rules finalized Nov. 15 by the Trump administration. Set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, the rule will require hos- pitals and health plans to disclose negotiated prices in a "consumer-friendly manner" on at least 300 "shoppable services," including up to 70 selected by CMS, Medscape reported. AAPS, a national conservative organization representing physicians in all specialties, submitted comments in sup- port of the proposal, saying this kind of price transpar- ency will help lower medical costs and allow healthcare consumers to make informed choices. AAPS encouraged the implementation of price-disclo- sure policies in 2018, stating that payers should "make information about contracted rates readily available to their enrollees. How can enrollees make informed choic- es without knowing ahead of time, as much as practical, what their insurer will pay for a given procedure at a giv- en facility?" However, hospitals and health systems fiercely oppose the proposal. Several hospital associations have an- nounced plans to sue HHS over the policy, saying the agency has gone beyond its legal authority, according to Medscape. "Instead of helping patients know their out-of-pocket costs, this rule will introduce widespread confusion, accelerate anticompetitive behavior among health insurers, and sty- mie innovations in value-based care delivery," the Ameri- can Hospital Association and three other groups said. On a call with reporters, HHS seemed prepared for legal challenges, Medscape reported. "We may face litigation, but we feel we're on a very sound legal footing for what we're asking," HHS Secretary Alex Azar reportedly said on the call. "And we certainly hope that America's hospitals will want to respect their pa- tients' right to know what the price of the service is be- fore they're asked to purchase it." n Texas USPI surgery center property reportedly sold for $20M By Rachel Popa A building housing a United Surgical Partners International ASC in Plano, Texas, was sold to a healthcare real estate trust ear- lier this month, according to industry news sites Commercial Property Executive and Bisnow. Gulf Corp. sold the property, which was nearly 50 percent leased to USPI, for over $20 million to Healthcare Realty Trust. Gulf Corp. initial- ly acquired the site in 2016 in a joint venture. The 49,000-square-foot property was also leased to Baylor Scott & White Health, which has a campus next to the building. n OSU Wexner Medical Center eyes $43M outpatient center By Rachel Popa T he Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center in Colum- bus is gearing up to buy an outpatient medical building for $43 million, according to Columbus Business First. OSU officials said the new building would align with the hospital's ambulatory care plan. Health system trustees will consider the pur- chase request this week. The purchase also requires approval by a state legislative board and two price appraisals. Wexner Medical Center is also seeking approval for the design and construction of an 840-bed hospital tower and outpatient complex on its west campus. n Real estate firm pays $56.1M for Missouri medical office building, orthopedic practice — 3 insights By Eric Oliver M B Real Estate Advisors acquired a medical office building and orthopedic center, spanning 184,181 square feet, for $56.1 million, Commercial Property Executive reports. What you should know: 1. The properties include a laboratory, an outpatient surgery center and an imaging facility. 2. MB Real Estate leased the space back to its current tenants. 3. Commercial Property Executive said the transaction was one of the largest sales by an independent medical group in Central Missouri in recent history. n