THE ASCA JOURNAL


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012


12 PLANNING FOR ICD-10 The impact of ICD-10 will extend far


beyond billing and into many areas of ASCs. Centers can take steps in advance to minimize the disruptions of the new coding system when it goes live on October 1, 2014. Waiting until the last minute could prove costly.


DEPARTMENTS


6 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO 20


Join your colleagues for an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Survey readiness seminar at ASCA’s annual meeting in Boston next year.


22 MEDICARE MONITOR More challenges to the health care system are likely despite the Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.


24 DOING BUSINESS A contract between an ASC and an educational institution can protect both parties when students come into a surgery center.


26 ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT US Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) describes how his personal experiences shaped his interest in ASCs.


30 ASCA NEWS There’s still time to register for ASCA’s Winter Coding Seminar, December 10–11, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.


32 WEB CRAWL What’s new and notable on ASCA’s web site.


FEATURES


8 PROTECTING THE OUT-OF-NETWORK OPTION The unpredictability and conflict associated with billing and collecting for out-of- network medical services can cause heartburn, but ASCs still have options for protecting this alternative.


14 JUSTIFYING THE INVESTMENT IN AN EMR SYSTEM EMRs can offer advantages to your ASC’s patients, physicians and staff.


18 CROSS CONNECTIONS International standards to prevent tubing misconnections are expected in 2014.


28 BLUNT-TIP SUTURE NEEDLES Four federal agencies have issued a safety recommendation aimed at reducing the risk of needlestick injuries and any subsequent transmission of pathogens.


34 GREATEST HITS ASC Focus looks at some of ASCA’s most popular news stories and resources in 2012.


ASC Focus is published by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, 1012 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.836.8808. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from ASCA is prohibited.


Chief Executive Officer: Bill Prentice; Director of Communications: Kay Tucker; Managing Editor: Martin W.G. King; Writer–Editor: Sahely Mukerji; Staff Writers: Jonathan Beal, Joe Hornig and Rob Kurtz


Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever or Kate Vasko at 202.337.1897. Vol. 5, No. 7 | ISSN 1944-7280


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38