09/22/2011

OAASC Members Enjoy Success on Washington D.C. Fly-in

Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers Co-Sponsors ASC Legislation

OAASC Members Enjoy Success on Washington D.C. Fly-in

Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers Co-Sponsors ASC Legislation

OAASC participants to the Washington D.C. fly-in this month scored a major victory by securing Ohio’s first co-sponsor for the ASC Quality and Access Act (H.R. 2108). Congressman Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) informed the OAASC that he will officially add his name to the legislation after meeting with numerous Ohio ASC representatives during the state’s advocacy days on Capitol Hill.

Stivers is the first Ohio congressional representative to ever endorse ASC specific legislation and if the reactions during the trip are any indication, he will likely not be the last.

"Ambulatory Surgery Centers provide valuable outpatient care and services that people rely on," Stivers said. "I am supporting and co-sponsoring H.R.2108, Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Pete Sessions of Texas."

"This bill works to level the playing field for ASCs by adjusting the way they receive payments from Medicare. I thank Mr. Sessions for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to support these ASC outpatient services."

OAASC members visited with a dozen congressional representatives' offices over the two day period in mid-October including a private breakfast meeting with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. In all the meetings, staff, Congressmen and Senators alike truly came to appreciate the positive role that ASCs play in the health care system and the impact they have on health care financing.

The ASC Quality and Access Act attempts to address Medicare payment inequities by moving ASC Medicare payments adjustments to the same system as Hospital Outpatient Departments. The goal is to stop the downward decline of payments as compared to HOPDs.  Additionally, the Act calls for quality reporting for ASCs.

The advocacy day is just the first step in the OAASC enhanced advocacy program. We are urging members to join the advocacy team by:

• hosting a legislator/congressman at your center,
• contacting your elected officials,
•  hosting us at a Board meeting to talk about the OAASC Political Action Committee,
• engaging center physicians to get involved,
• attending a future advocacy day in Washington D.C. or Columbus.

Please contact Randy Leffler at rleffler@oaasc.net to join the OAASC Advocacy Team or to obtain more information.