ASC Association Sounds Off in Response to Bush’s 2009 Budget Proposal

Alexandria, Va. – “The proposed Medicare payment cuts to ASCs are totally unacceptable and should be rejected by Congress,” asserts ASC Association president Kathy Bryant after reviewing the 2009 budget proposal U.S. President George W. Bush submitted to Congress on February 4.

President Bush’s 2009 budget proposal extends the freeze on ASC annual updates through 2011, and then reduces the update in future years by 0.65 percentage points an -- anticipated savings of $450 million for the federal government over five years. The budget would cut all providers by $12.8 billion in 2009 and $182.7 billion over five years.

While the payment cuts to ASCs mirror proposed cuts to some other healthcare providers, the impact on ASCs would be even greater. Bryant explains, “ASC payments have been frozen for six years while other provider payments have increased. During this period, nursing and medical supply costs have been escalating steadily. It is unthinkable that ASCs would be subjected to even more Medicare cuts at this time.”

“It is critical that ASCs are represented on Capitol Hill right now,” continues Bryant. “We need to make certain that every member of Congress knows about the outstanding, cost-effective surgical care and top-rated customer service ASCs are providing. We need every member of Congress to understand that adopting policies…and budgets…that undermine ASCs is a huge mistake. ASCs already play a critical role in meeting America’s surgical needs and are ready to do more, but without federal support for all that this country’s individual ASCs do each day to meet and exceed their patients’ needs and expectations, ASCs will not be able to continue to provide all that they are providing today. They will not be able to continue to serve their communities in the many important ways they are serving them today.”

Source: ASC Association

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