ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
ASCs Host In-Person and Virtual Facility Tours ASCA provides help with setup BY ADAM PARKER
As we transition out of the pandemic, ASC profes- sionals need to keep shar- ing their stories, especially from the past year, with
policy makers to educate them about the longstanding
issues that ASCs
face. Members of Congress and other elected and appointed officials need to be reminded of the many ways ASCs already serve their constituents and the actions needed to expand patient access to the safe, high-quality, cost- effective care ASCs provide. ASCA’s Facility Tour program continues to be the most impactful and direct way to connect lawmakers with member facilities. ASCA mem- bers can connect with and educate their members of Congress either vir- tually, using ASCA’s virtual tour plat- form, or in person, by leading a physi- cal tour of their facility. Both virtual and physical facility tours give ASC professionals the opportunity to edu- cate members of Congress and their staff who are not familiar with the intricacies of the ASC model and to build valuable relationships with their federal representatives. Educating and building these relationships early in a congressperson’s tenure is espe- cially essential. To this end, ASCA is working to connect its members with the 71 new members of Congress who were sworn into office on Janu- ary 3, 2021. Throughout June, ASCA members hosted successful tours with members of Congress and their staff from across the political spectrum.
In-Person Tours
On June 4, 2021, Surgery Center South in Dothan, Alabama, hosted its new member of Congress, Rep- resentative Barry Moore (R-AL), in the facility. During the congress-
20 ASC FOCUS AUGUST 2021 |
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From left to right, Bridgette Barkley, receptionist, Congressman Barry Moore(R–AL) and Latricia Phillips, director of reimbursement of Surgery Center South in Dothan, Alabama, on facility tour day.
man’s visit, facility staff provided an overview of their facility and dis- cussed the procedures they perform, the impact of the pandemic, and the money ASCs save Medicare and their patients. They also showed the con- gressman their entire facility. “We were honored to host Congress-
man Barry Moore and grateful he took the time out of his busy schedule to tour our facility,” said Sharron Sullivan, administrator. “It is important that the ASC community work with our gov- ernment officials and educate them on the safety and efficiencies of ASCs, the many benefits that our facilities provide to their constituents, and the savings we provide to Medicare. I would like to thank Adam for coordinating this visit and all the helpful insight and informa-
tion he provided prior to our meeting with Congressman Moore.” On June 11, 2021, New Mexico Sur- gery Center Orthopaedics in Albuquer- que, New Mexico, hosted a tour for the healthcare staff members of Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM). During their tour, the surgery center staff presented an in-depth look at their facility’s his- tory serving New Mexico communities and families, as well as the aid they pro- vided to health systems in New Mex- ico during the pandemic restrictions by serving as a much-needed provider of outpatient surgeries to hundreds of New Mexicans. They also educated Senator Heinrich’s staff about the ASC Quality and Access Act of 2019, which would provide legislative fixes to the grow- ing Medicare reimbursement dispari- ties between ASCs and HOPDs, greater
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