The Indiana Legislature is scheduled to adjourn March 11, if not a few days earlier. This year, much of the IFASC Legislative Committee's focus has been on a proposal to add ambulatory outpatient surgical centers to the definition of "medical service facility" under the worker's compensation law and thus cap payment in those cases at 200% of the Medicare reimbursement rate (IN HB 1153).

This has been an issue for several years. There have been countless hours pushing for a suitable solution that preserves access to affordable and safe care. This has included meetings with legislators, lobbyists and others, as well as official testimony by Timo Yuckman, Vice President at Surgical Care Affiliates. Once the dust dies down and we have a more complete assessment of this year's activities, we will certainly advise IFASC membership.

Last November, bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress to slow the widening disparity in Medicare payments between ASCs and hospital outpatient departments by making permanent the hospital market basket as the inflationary update factor, adding transparency and accessibility for patients trying to research quality metrics, forcing CMS to disclose the reasons procedures are denied reimbursement in the ASC setting and adding an ASC voice to the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment.

Your advocacy is critical in getting the attention and support of policymakers. Please help secure the support of your members of Congress for the Outpatient Surgery Center Quality and Access Act of 2021 by using ASCA's template letter to reach out and ask them to sign on to the bill as a cosponsor. (Source: ASCA Government Affairs Update, Dec. 16 2021)

With your continued membership, IFASC will enhance its reputation as a vital and nimble organization with an advocacy program that gives to give voice to ASC’s regulatory and legislative priorities, including COVID testing requirements, Medicare and workers’ comp payment schedules, and cost transparency. What’s more, our twice-annual conferences are informative and affordable opportunities to earn continuing education credits and network with colleagues and industry representatives.

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