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ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT


On Tap This Year A look at ASCA’s 2016 advocacy agenda BY BLAKE MCDONALD


A ■ ■


SCA and its members broadened support for ASCs on Capitol Hill


and achieved a number of other suc- cesses for ASCs in Washington, DC, in 2015. For example, ■


the Electronic Health Fairness Act passed both the US House and Senate;


the ASC Quality and Access Act got a record level of support; and


ASC leaders met with nearly half of the US Congress to directly advo- cate for ASC policy priorities. Looking forward to 2016, ASCA is preparing to build on those successes and expand its efforts in the following areas:


Federal Legislative Policy ASCA will continue to work with Congress to build support for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality and Access Act (H.R. 1453/S. 2071) and the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 1220/S. 624). Increasing the number of cosponsors on these bills is important because


the backing of a large,


bipartisan group of legislators on bills like these prompts leaders of the House and Senate to take note of the issues the legislation addresses. Although most bills introduced in


Congress are not voted on individually, bills like those that ASCA is backing are often combined with other health care bills as a package that Congress votes on at one time. For example, last year the Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015 was passed in the House as part of a larger package of health care initiatives. Building a critical mass of congressional support for a particular bill increases the likelihood that some part of it will be included in a larger legislative package. To support its lobbying efforts in


2016, ASCA will once again call on its members to join its staff in Wash-


expect to face new challenges and burdens in the coming year. ASCA will continue to work with states to increase patient access by support- ing expanded length-of-stay alterna- tives up to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services definition of less than 24 hours. Additionally, we will continue to work with ASCs across the country that are expanding their services to include complex surgeries that might require more than 24 hours of medical care.


ington, DC, in June and September for our Capitol Fly-Ins. The Fly-Ins are a unique opportunity to deliver a unified message in support of our pro-ASC legislation and for ASC professionals to build personal relationships with their members of Congress. ASCA also will continue its facility


tour program, highlighted by National ASC Day, to help our members plan, schedule and host their members of Con- gress and other policymakers in their surgery centers. ASCA will work to get key members of Congress into ASCs so they can see firsthand how these centers serve their communities and why there is a need to enact our legislation, such as the ASC Quality and Access Act.


State Regulatory and Legislative Policy The state


regulatory landscape has


seen much activity in 2015, and ASCA expects more of the same in 2016. With tax increases, new workers’ com- pensation schedules that could reduce ASC payments and anti-competitive restrictions on the health care mar- ketplace on the horizon, ASCs can


ASCA has been working with state associations to preemptively identify states that are at risk for any burdensome changes in state law. We are cultivating a network of ASC advocates who will be equipped with the tools they need to spring into action when particular issues are being discussed in the states and to educate their policymakers year round on the benefits that ASCs provide in


their


communities and the damage done when patients cannot access the care they need.


ASCA also is working to connect state associations so that they can share successful advocacy tactics and coordinate across state lines. Using online resources, we are helping recruit for meetings, share best practices and create policy-specific templates that ASC advocates can use when they meet with their lawmakers.


While the media will be focused on


who fills the White House, ASCA will be busy working to empower you to work with your elected officials to pro- tect and promote the high-quality care that your ASC provides. 2016 promises to be an important year for ASCs.


Blake McDonald is ASCA’s assistant director of Government Affairs–Outreach. Write him at bmcdonald@ascassociation.org.


ASC FOCUS JANUARY 2016 23


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