DOING BUSINESS


Under capitation, physicians are also encouraged to control their use of the ASC and to identify and pursue, when appropriate, less expensive alternative modalities that could avoid surgery all together.


Impact on the Industry The owners and leaders of ASCs, regard- less of whether payers in their market are pushing for capitated contracts, would be wise to understand this paradigm and how the movement toward capitated care might—and perhaps should—push and change the ASC industry. As more health care markets move to-


ward accountable care and development of ACOs, if the leadership of ASCs can embrace and promote the idea of ASCs not as revenue generators but as cost controllers, keep the egos of partners in check and obtain buy-in to the idea that surgery centers are first and foremost about providing quality care and cost


Capitation can be an effective model to control


overall health care costs and allow providers to deliver care in a manner that focuses on improving quality while maximizing cost effectiveness.”


—Joan Dentler, ASC Strategies


savings, and not about how much money is made, they will be better positioned to participate and thrive in an ACO. Such a shift will impact not just


ASC owners and staff but also the support services needed to operate an ASC in the industry. The importance of cost and benchmarking might become a greater priority than revenue cycle management and marketing in terms of where leadership would want to invest.


ASCA’s 2013 Fall Seminars October 9–12, 2013, at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas


CASC Review Course (October 9) Quality Seminar (October 9) Finance & Accounting Seminar (October 10–11) Purchasing & Inventory Management (October 12) CASC Exam (October 12)


Each seminar is offered individually. Continuing education credit for nurses (CEU) and administrators (AEU) will be available.


Register today! www.ascassociation.org/2013FallSeminars


As noted earlier, focusing on cost and quality are not new concepts to ASC owners/operators, but making them the sole focus could be a stretch for investors. Such focus will be part of the changing health care landscape that providers, payers and consumers will have to navigate in the future and is yet another example of the continu- ing downward pressure ASCs are see- ing on revenues. Even if you have not been approached about a capitated model of payment yet, proactive ASC managers and administrators having these conversations in board and part- nership meetings now will be in the best position to lay the foundation for changes coming in the future.


Joan Dentler is the president and founder of ASC Strategies, www.ascstrategies.com, in Austin, Texas. She can be reached at jdentler@ascstrategies.com or 512.479.6700.


ASC FOCUS JULY 2013


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