THE ASCA JOURNAL


JANUARY 2013


12 MAKE THE MOST OF MAKEOVERS


Successful ASC renovation projects are built on effective partnerships between owners and architects.


Cover and left photo courtesy of Mohagen/Hansen Architectural Group


DEPARTMENTS 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO


8 AS I SEE IT As 2013 begins and the newly elected Congress convenes, ASCA is continuing to fight for policy changes that support patients and ASCs.


10


Independent ASCs could be vulnerable in the face of market consolidation and accountable care organizations. Find out how to protect your ASC and stay on top of your game at ASCA’s annual meeting this April.


26 MEDICARE MONITOR Analysis of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ final 2013 ASC payment rule.


30 ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT Meg Wiebel, president of the Iowa Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, talks about how ASCs’ efforts in one state reverberate across state lines and into Washington, DC.


32 ASCA NEWS Register now for ASCA 2013 and all or part of ASCA’s 2013 webinar series. More about ASCA’s fall specialty seminar program will be available soon.


33 WEB CRAWL Medicare’s quality reporting protocol changes on January 1.


FEATURES


16 COSTS AND BENEFITS Under the health care reform law, some small businesses that extend health insurance to their employees will be eligible for tax benefits. Others that don’t offer coverage might pay penalties.


18 PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST Good customer service can ensure the success of an ASC.


22 EXPERT ADVICE There are ways to make sure your ASC’s board members have the information they need.


34 REACHING OUT ASCs find new ways to develop useful patient satisfaction surveys and encourage patient response.


ASC Focus is published by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, 1012 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, phone: 703.836.8808, fax: 703.549.0976, www.ascassociation.org. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from ASCA is prohibited.


Chief Executive Officer: Bill Prentice; Director of Communications: Kay Tucker; 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. 6, No. 1 | 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