WolfBlock: Good News in N.J.

“More good news!” is what WolfBlock reports on the latest New Jersey ASC developments.

Legislation protecting the status quo of the ASC industry in New Jersey is continuing to move through the Legislature. 

In a 38-0 vote on the floor of the New Jersey State Senate yesterday afternoon, Senator Richard J. Codey's bill S-787, which seeks to modify New Jersey's ban on self-referrals was dramatically improved.  The revised bill creates an exception for referrals to ambulatory surgery centers provided certain conditions are met.  The amendments also strengthen the language pertaining to the exception for one-room centers removing some doubt left by the previous version.

Instead of "grandfathering" existing centers which would have brought new development to halt, the revised legislation creates a two-year moratorium on the issuance of new ASC licenses.  The two-year moratorium on new ASCs would not (1) apply to ASCs that have plans filed by September 1, 2008; (2) restrict expansion of existing ASCs so long as expansion plans are filed by September 1, 2008; (3) restrict the transfer of ASC ownership in any way; or (4) apply to one-room centers.

“We hope that the bill will be voted out of the Senate over the next 60 days and are continuing to work on its passage in the Assembly during the same time frame,” the WolfBlock attorneys note. “In the meantime, we continue to be pleased by the fact that insurance companies are paying for ASC services without interruption.”

WolfBlock represents the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Medical Society of New Jersey, Orthopedic Surgeons of New Jersey, Alliance for Quality Care, New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmologists, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Northwest Jersey, and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

Source: WolfBlock

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