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:
· IV Shortages: ASCA recently sent a brief letter to US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra regarding intravenous (IV) solutions shortages arising in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Much of this is due to damage done to Baxter’s manufacturing site in North Cove, North Carolina, from the rain and storm surge that resulted in water permeating the facility.
o This Baxter facility supplies approximately 60 percent of the IV solutions used every day in the US. Baxter’s website is being updated as new information is released. Baxter has stated, “Supporting our employees in the impacted communities, bringing the North Cove facility back online and helping to ensure ongoing supply to patients are our top priorities.”
o As such, ASCA requests that a national public health emergency be declared to allow for waivers of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules and regulations that would help alleviate the growing problems associated with sterile IV shortages throughout the US. In addition to declaring a national public health emergency, HHS should continue to work with and encourage the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to declare a shortage of sterile IV solutions to allow certain flexibilities not otherwise available to healthcare providers.
o ASCA has created a webpage with links to the most recent developments in Baxter’s hurricane response and additional resources. Contact Kara Newbury at knewbury@ascassociation.org with any questions.
· CMS Final Rule: On September 9, ASCA submitted formal comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2025 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPD). ASCA expects the final rule to be released around November 1 and will provide more information to its members as soon as it becomes available. Contact Kara Newbury at knewbury@ascassociation.org with any questions.
· OAS CAHPS: As a reminder, the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey was finalized as a new measure, ASC-15a-e, in Medicare’s ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program in the CY 2022 OPPS/ASC final rule. Voluntary reporting for the measure began in 2024, with mandatory reporting beginning in 2025.
o The survey has specific administration modes and requires ASCs to work with an approved OAS CAHPS Survey vendor to fulfill the reporting requirements. There are more than 6,300 Medicare-certified ASCs, but as of this week, only about a third of facilities (2,188) have authorized a vendor to submit data on their behalf.
o In a recent episode of ASCA’s Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, “OAS CAHPS Keys to Success,” ASCA Immediate Past President Mandy Hawkins, RN, CASC, CAIP, leads a discussion with Press Ganey Emerging Markets President Bob McSweeney and Director of Health Policy Eme Augustine. The three talk about the challenges and opportunities confronting ASCs administering the OAS CAHPS Survey and provide practical advice that can help ASCs succeed with the new survey.
o To ensure your facility is ready when the survey becomes mandatory, ASCA strongly encourages all ASCs to start the vendor selection process as soon as possible. Those with experience conducting the survey say setup alone can easily take three months or more. Surgery centers that fail to comply with the reporting requirement will be subject to a reduction in their Medicare reimbursement rates in 2027 and beyond. Learn more about the OAS CAHPS Survey. Contact Kara Newbury at knewbury@ascassociation.org with any questions.
