WISCA works closely with our national association partner – the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) – on advocacy and other issues important to our members. In fact, the WISCA Government Affairs Team joins a national ASCA state chapter call twice a month for a federal regulatory and legislative briefing and closely follows their published Government Affairs Updates. Here is the latest federal government affairs news from ASCA:
- COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Biden administration allowed the official declaration of a public health emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic to expire on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Numerous waivers expired along with the PHE declaration, including the Hospitals Without Walls initiative that allowed ASCs to bill as hospitals. About 100 ASCs had enrolled in the program, and ASCA has yet to hear of any facilities that plan on formally enrolling as hospitals.
ASCA expects the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to release more guidance regarding removing survey requirements due to the expiration of the PHE, particularly in its 2024 OPPS/ASC Payment Rule.
ASCA understands that many facilities are experiencing delays in receiving their initial CMS Certification Numbers (CCN) and Provider Transaction Account Numbers (PTAN). ASCA staff is scheduled to speak with CMS about this issue.
