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https://www.texasascsociety.org/are-you-asking-patients-if-they-have-had-the-covid-19-vaccine
As we move into the new outpatient/ambulatory payment year still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating payment rules across sites of care and ensuring that pharmacy is in sync with their organization’s overall strategies are essential. Themes finalized in the rule sets are: embrace patient centricity, continue to simplify (electronic health record requirements and reporting, regulations), cut costs and save money, and not lose focus on pharmacy’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
2021 OPPS Effects
It’s Day 2 of the J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference at its finest – looking closely at healthcare inequities, strategic business shifts and killer robots, all in the same day! (Yes, we did say killer robots and it’s your reward for reading all the way to the end of this article).
We have moved from last year’s significant emphasis at the JPM Conference on social determinants of health (SDOH) initiatives to a broader discussion of healthcare equity, social justice, diversity and anti-racism, as voiced by many health plans and health systems. Stephen Klasko, Chief Executive Officer of Jefferson Health, said that, “Health disparities are the #1 public health crisis in our nation.” As many noted at the Conference, the COVID-19 crisis is clear evidence that minority and economically disadvantaged communities are medically underserved and bear a higher burden of illness than their more affluent neighbors. Many of the healthcare companies presenting at the Conference expressed their commitment to work to improve those inequities. We look forward to what we will see at next year’s JPM Conference. It also was refreshing to see women Chief Executive Officers presenting at the Conference for leading healthcare companies, like Karen Lynch, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of CVS Health. Kudos for this year’s markedly increased presence on the podium of women in leadership – CEO’s, CFO’s and CSO’s, among others.
On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act modified the Calendar Year (CY) 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), providing a 3.75 percent increase in MPFS payments. CMS recalculated Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) rates for office-based covered surgical procedures and certain covered ancillary radiology services and diagnostic tests, as well as the budget neutrality adjustment applied to all ASC procedure payment rates.
Make change happen! Getting involved with membership organizations, such as TASCS, is essential in the success of your professional development, creating valuable partnerships and is truly the best way for progression in the ASC Industry.
Have you ever pondered…? “Why did they select that topic for education?” or “Why are we focused on this Legislative topic?.” Perhaps you have even thought, “What am I getting out of my membership?” Your ideas are relevant, and your engagement is key to our success.
Your membership is a partnership with TASCS and your fellow members. You make a difference in the lives of many families in your community. TASCS membership allows you to share your news and challenges with industry experts. Help us identify key issues for you and your business. Let us help you grow and promote your company/association. TASCS needs your support to help achieve our mutual goals.
2021 looks to be another challenging year for the ASC Industry. Membership in TASCS is the key to staying informed regarding ASC Legislative issues in Texas. We have a considerable amount of work to do during the 87th Legislative Session. No other association can provide the resources and educational opportunities from a LOCAL perspective. TASCS is working diligently for YOU and your local programs at the Texas Capitol.
Jeff Blankinship grew up in Plano, Texas, and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1986. He started in healthcare in 1989, in Los Angeles, California, as he was a part of the group that started Pain Relief Network, a regional pain management facility covering Southern California and Arizona. In 1994, when moving back to Texas, he ran several home health companies before entering back into the ASC space. In 1996, he was hired by Amedisys, out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to run and develop an ambulatory surgery center in Houston. In 1999, he met his wife, who was a transcriptionist in Dallas; at that time, they created Surgical Notes, an integrated internet medical records service and software company, which grew organically and developed many useful applications such as ScanChart, SnCoder and SNChart.
In case you missed it! Read this important article about the signing of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and what it means for you.
