Becker's Spine Review

22 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CMS is also removing two measures, effective with the FY 2018 program year. PSS-Exempt Cancer Hospital Quality Reporting program Established by the ACA, the PCHQR program collects and publishes data on an announced set of quality measures. In the final rule, CMS finalizes three new patient safety measures under the program. e three new measures are: a Clostridium difficile infection outcome measure, a Hospital-Onset Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia outcome measure and a measure of influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel. e final rule will be published in the Federal Register Aug. 17. Comments on the rule are due Sept. 29, and the rule is effective Oct. 1. n What Percentage of Spine Surgeons Will Have ASC Ownership in 5 Years? By Megan Wood N eel Anand, MD, Clin- ical Professor of Sur- gery and Director of Spine Trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles: 10 percent will have owner- ship in ASCs. John Regan, MD, The Spine Group Beverly Hills: Since almost 50 percent have owner- ship in an ambulatory surgery center now, in five years that number will increase to about 75 percent based on hospital costs and insurance compa- nies cutting back on spine surgery approvals or making approvals very difficult. Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, FAANS, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I think about 40 to 50 percent of spine surgeons will have ownership, and I think it will be spread evenly across neu- rosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. Robert S. Bray Jr., MD, DISC Sports & Spine Center: The prediction is that within five years, 75 percent of spine surgeons will have ownership in ASCs and up to 50 percent of all surgeries will be done there. Praveen Kadimcherla, MD, Atlantic Spine Center: I would say 25 percent use it now, and close to 75 percent will use it in five years. I think 50 percent will have owner- ship. Frank M. Phillips, MD, Spine Fellowship Co-Director at Rush University Medical Cen- ter, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery: Clearly, there is go- ing to be significant growth in volume of spinal procedures performed in ASCs. Owner- ship by surgeons will increase. At the same time many sur- geon-owned ASCs are increas- ingly partnering with hospitals that have the ability to control flow of patients and negotiate with payers. n 8 9 10

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