ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
State-Based Advocacy Champions Speak Out One-on-one with the presidents of PASA and NSCA BY ALI LEGROS-MURPHY
ASCA works with ASC advocates in states across the country to support legislative initiatives that protect patient access to
ASCs and defeat proposals that jeopar- dize ASCs’ ability to deliver top-qual- ity care. Excerpts from interviews with two state-based advocates who fought to protect the ASC model of care in their states follow.
Gwen Baker RN, president of Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association and director
of perioperative care at Apple Hill Surgical Center in York, Pennsylvania “The legislative process is not some- thing that sparked my interest, how- ever, I have personally experienced the impact involvement has on facili- tating change. In 2005, the Pennsyl- vania Ambulatory Surgery Associa- tion (PASA), Pennsylvania Medical Society, ASCA—then known as the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Asso- ciation—Leader Surgical and its phy- sicians collaborated to bring a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, Department of Health to be able to perform laparoscopic cholecys- tectomies in the Commonwealth’s sur- gical centers. It was an important mile- stone in the journey to update the rules and regulations by which the Com- monwealth lives. Although the process is laborious, we know that ASCs pro- vide excellent care, service and cost benefits to the residents of Pennsylva- nia, and we have an obligation to par- ticipate in continuous improvement. “Pennsylvania ASCs are regu- lated by standards from 1999 and that is one of our biggest challenges. The legislative process is not a one-
man show, and success comes from working together for a common goal. PASA partners with Milliron & Good- man LLC, lobbyists, to help us navi- gate the logistics of the legislative pro- cess. Milliron & Goodman keeps us informed of the potential issues that could impact ASCs, schedules meet- ings with legislators and PASA to dis- cuss our membership’s concerns and recommendations, and provides guid- ance in grassroots efforts in which the membership participates. PASA and our lobbyists seek guidance and sup- port from ASCA in tackling some of the issues we face. We are purposeful in our approach to legislative issues and keep our focus on a few initia- tives at a time. Additionally, we utilize administrative services from our state medical society, which enables us to stay focused on the work to be done. “I strongly encourage active mem- bership in state ASC organizations. Professionals new to the ASC com- munity can benefit by networking with a seasoned counterpart. Attend state meetings and educate yourself about the issues in your state, and when called upon to participate in legisla-
26 ASC FOCUS APRIL 2018 |
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tive activities, do so. Grassroots efforts are an important part of educating our legislators about our business and the services we offer. Get involved in your state organization’s board of directors and work with others to create change.”
Kristen Swilley, vice president of Nevada Surgery Center Association (NSCA) and regional vice president
of United Surgical Partners International (USPI) “Perhaps like many reading this, I never sought involvement in state leg- islature or the state ASC association. I trusted that the outpatient surgery industry was established, reputable. The clinical and financial results cer- tainly spoke for themselves and, there- fore, I—naively—believed that my state representatives and legislators must surely trust the same. “With our physician partners, we
began laying the foundation for a total joint program in 2015 and relied heav- ily upon all the known resources to start such a program: identifying and repli- cating clinical best practices, identify-
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