ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
ing Senator Wyden to sponsor the ASC legislation. This was truly a team effort. I am proud of Dr. Rich Edelson who has a 30-year friendship with the sena- tor and who joined the ASCA staff and me to educate the senator and his staff on our issues. The bottom line is that we worked hard to build rapport and trust with the senator and his staff.
Do you have any advice for members of ASCA who are interested in being more involved in ASC advocacy activi- ties in their home states and on Capi- tol Hill? SCHWARTZ: Engaging physicians, administrators and support staff in
ASCA and their state associations is a never-ending challenge. We need to acknowledge that people have a dis- dain for politics and a fear of failure and the unknown. It is important to educate in a manner that raises the comfort level and creates small victo- ries for members. We need to do a bet- ter job of showing our members how they can make a difference by engag- ing in the political process and what will happen if they do not.
Where do you see the ASC industry in 10 years? SCHWARTZ: I am concerned that in- creased consolidation and the notion
that bigger is better will cause more doctors to walk away from investing in ASCs and encourage those with owner- ship to sell either to hospitals or larger companies. While some large compa- nies are important and good for our in- dustry, there is much to say that small business is still vital for our country. The trend toward liberal, big govern- ment should also be of concern. Can this country afford large entitlement programs that will crowd out other im- portant initiatives and place a greater burden on physicians through more taxes and fees?
ASCA’s Kara Newbury interviewed Rob Schwartz.
ASC FOCUS APRIL 2013
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