A Shining Overview

MWE’s Eric Zimmerman likened the ASC industry to Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining.” The connection between the two, he explains, relates to years past in the ASC industry and to the recent CMS changes that have been hanging over the industry’s head. This couples with “the proverbial warning signs found in a horror movie,” such as that of the impending doom of the chase by Nicholson and his hatchet.

Luckily, as Zimmerman point outs, the industry now views the scene through the rearview mirror and has left much of that gloom and doom behind.

“We just came through great change," he asserts. “Many of you are still getting through a lot of that, and there are still a lot of bumps in the road.”

He also discussed the 65 percent payment rate and how it plays out in actuality. “The reality on the ground is really quite different,” he shares, adding, “The volatility in concern to Medicaid” has yet to pass.

Following is Zimmerman’s overview of recent and pending legislation, including that of the 2009 budget proposal recently recommended by President Bush, as well as the Conditions of Coverage concerns. However, Zimmerman advises the industry may not see any real happenings in these arenas this year because “Congress is under a great deal of pressure” to handle a great many other things. The specialty hospital debate, however, will most likely “regain focus and regain speed in 2008,” he warns.

“Congress has really focused its attention on specialty hospitals,” Zimmerman notes. “It picked up greater urgency in 2007,” following the attempt to hand down greater restrictions — “the most sweeping restrictions to date,” according to Zimmerman.

Quality trends is another highlight he offered. He warns this could very well follow suit with it being required as it is now at hospitals

With the industry’s Nicholson lying unconscious in the snow, at least temporarily, the message taken away from this session is that the ASC industry needs to spend that running time preparing for the next big battle.

“We are definitely in a much better place this year, but many changes still lie ahead. Preparatory action must be taken,” Zimmerman concluded.

-- Jennifer Schraag, reporting live from the 2008 Symposium. Pick up the April issue of today's surgicenter magazine for more coverage and photos of the Symposium.

Photo caption: Attendees Jeff Leland, managing partner with Blue Chip Partners, follows along during the session.

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