Becker's Spine Review

41 ASC What ASCs can expect more of in 2022 By Laura Dyrda A SCs are in a great position to take ad- vantage of high quality, low cost care trends in 2022. But they will face the same challenges as other companies when it comes to supply chain and staffing shortages. Ten projections for ASCs this year: 1. Commercial payers will direct more of their members to ASCs and increasingly require the low-cost setting for coverage. In some areas, payers already are sending letters to members explaining why they should have procedures in ASCs, according to Christine Blackburn, BSN, administrator of South Kansas City SurgiCenter. 2. e nursing shortage will worsen. Regis- tered nurses are retiring at a rate of 100,000 per year, according to the American Nurses Association, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be a need for 1.1 million new RNs in 2022. 3. ASCs will transform into a more "bou- tique" healthcare business as patients demand a more comfortable care experience. Surgery is stressful for patients and family members, even for nonemergency procedures, and the "boutique" feel of a facility is calming for pa- tients, said Ms. Blackburn. 4. ASCs will dive deeper into data collection with more sophisticated IT systems and quality reporting requirements. ey also will need to collect and analyze data to enter into bundled payments and other episode-of-care contracts, including direct employer arrangements. 5. Insurance companies will require more documentation and question prior authoriza- tions aer surgery is complete. ASCs in many areas already are seeing heightened scrutiny from insurers, and the CMS decision to move many procedures off the ASC-payable list in 2022 will spark more time-consuming and costly requests from commercial insurers. 6. Higher supply costs likely will continue in 2022. PwC projects the medical cost trend will be up 6.5 percent next year over 2021, with supply spending as an inflator. Prices of personal protective equipment, especially, will increase as facilities stockpile in prepara- tion for future emergencies. 7. ASCs will be in a strong position to recruit physicians as more physicians decide to leave employment contracts. e Biden adminis- tration's attack on noncompete agreements may make it easier for physicians to join inde- pendent medical groups. Hospitals also may shy away from physician hiring because of the rising costs to attract specialist talent. 8. e biggest ASC companies will keep getting bigger through organic growth and a sharp acquisition strategy. In November, United Surgical Partners International an- nounced plans to acquire SurgCenter Devel- opment for $1.2 billion, and the two plan to develop 50 ASCs in the next five years. ere are several other midsize ASC companies that are attractive targets for large chains, such as AmSurg and Surgical Care Affiliates. 9. ere will be an explosion of ASCs in ar- eas where populations are rapidly growing, such as in Texas, Florida and North and South Carolina. e U.S. Census Bureau's world population review shows all four states are among the top 10 fastest-growing ones this year. 10. There is plenty of opportunity for in- dependent ASCs to thrive with the right relationships to drive referrals, add service lines and enter into beneficial payer con- tracts. ASCs with a strong reputation will also increasingly contract directly with large employers, bypassing the traditional insurance model. n Joint venture ASC combines three Colorado orthopedic groups By Alan Condon V ail (Colo.) Health on Nov. 16 opened Dillon (Colo.) Health Center, a multidisciplinary facility that comprises five of the health system's part- ners, according to Real Vail. The Steadman Clinic, Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, Howard Head Sports Medicine, Colorado Mountain Medical and Shaw Cancer Center will provide care at the 85,000-square-foot center. Dillon Health Center is also home to Dillon Surgery Center, a hub for orthopedic and pain procedures. Surgical care will be provided by the Steadman Clinic and Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, with post-op care provided by Howard Head Sports Medicine. "Eleven of our world-class surgeons will be a part of this collaborative effort to provide excellent patient care to the communities of Summit County," said Dan Drawbaugh, CEO of the Steadman Clinic and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail. n Orthopedic practice moves services to nearby hospital, surgery center By Marcus Robertson S omersworth, N.H.-based Wentworth Health Partners Seacoast Orthope- dics and Sports Medicine moved all hospital-based services to Went- worth Surgery Center and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, according to an Oct. 22 report in Foster's Daily Democrat. Physicians at the practice began performing surgeries at the Dover, N.H.-based hospital and the Somersworth ASC on Oct. 27, according to the report. The arrangement requires a single physician-owner of the pain management firm; the CRNA performing services at the practice's office and ASC; and the ASC being 80 percent owned by the physician-owner of the pain manage- ment practice and 20 percent by another physician. n

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