Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center AssociationIASCA

News & Announcements

E-prescribe mandate takes effect January 1

posted: November 16, 2023
Regulatory UpdateIn an earlier update, IASCA alerted members to a delay in the implementation of the state’s e-prescribe manadate. We can now report that the Illinois Department of Human Services has adopted... Read More

August is National ASC Month: Supporting the ASC Industry

posted: August 7, 2023
IASCA recognizes member centers’ vital importance to patients and the healthcare industry.To participate in this month’s celebration, ASCA recommends: Customize Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn social media... Read More

IASCA President Addresses End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

posted: May 11, 2023
President's perspective on the expiration of the public health emergency and an important update on the submission of surgical smoke policies. Read the Newsletter

State Officials Outline Changes as Public Health Emergency Ends

posted: May 11, 2023
What will and will not change with the public health response to COVID-19 With the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 on May 11, 2023, this Illinois Department of Public Health memo serves to clarify... Read More

IASCA News: Spring 2023

posted: May 4, 2023
Unwinding National and State COVID Emergency Measures; Illinois Guarantees One Week of Paid Leave for All Workers Read the Newsletter

UPDATE: Health Care Worker Vaccine, Testing and Masking Mandates

posted: May 3, 2023
State Testing Mandate Expired October 15Governor Pritzker’s executive order on Vaccination and Testing Requirements for Health Care Workers expired October 15, 2022.Facilities should continue to follow any federal... Read More

Surgical Smoke Plume Evacuation Policy Update

posted: September 26, 2022
On September 26, 2022, the Illinois Department of Public Health directed Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Centers to send notification of their adoption of a surgical smoke plume evacuation policy to the IDPH via email at DPH... Read More

IASCA Warns of “Troubling Developments” in 2022 Medicare ASC Payment Proposal

posted: November 19, 2021
In September 17, 2021, correspondence with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, IASCA joined 30 state associations to comment on the calendar year (CY) 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS... Read More

Governor Extends Heath Care Worker Vaccination Deadline

posted: September 7, 2021
On September 3, 2021, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2021-22 which, in part, extends the deadline for Health Care Workers to be vaccinated (or be subjected to regular testing) to September 19th. Read More

Surgical Smoke Evacuation Mandate Becomes Law

posted: August 25, 2021
Campaign organizers to speak at IASCA Annual Meeting Sept. 22nd in Lisle, ILIllinois became the fifth state to go surgical smoke free on August 20th when Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation (SB 1908) requiring... Read More

IASCA Member Featured in Article Addressing Rural ASC Business Growth

posted: August 24, 2021
In a June 9, 2021, interview with Becker’s ASC Review, Mt. Vernon, Ill.-based Good Samaritan Surgery Center Administrator Melinda Cain, RN, BSN, CASC, speaks to her center’s focus on growth despite the hurdles... Read More

Public Health Officials Allocating Free COVID-19 Test Kits to Eligible Facilities

posted: May 21, 2021
The Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are collaborating to provide information and technical support to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that wish to receive a... Read More

IASCA Calls for Updated Elective Procedure Guidelines

posted: April 5, 2021
In April 5th correspondence with Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association President Jean Dunaway, RN, CASC, requests “the swift issuance of updated Guidance on Elective Surgeries and... Read More

IASCA 2020 Salary Survey

posted: February 23, 2021
IASCA conducted its first salary survey to provide guidance to its members on the average compensation paid to surgical center employees. Eighteen facilities responded to this initial survey. A key finding from the survey... Read More

IASCA Advocacy Update

posted: February 17, 2021
CMS Provides Enforcement Flexibility for Exceeding 24-Hour Stays during PHE(ASCA Government Affairs Update, January 14, 2021) On December 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo... Read More

Physician Presence Rule Change Adopted

posted: November 16, 2020
Under a new rule officially adopted by the Illinois Department of Public Health on November 13, 2020, a physician's continuous presence at a facility until all patients are medically discharged will no longer be... Read More

IASCA Joins Midwest Consortium to Urge Resumption of Elective Procedures

posted: April 24, 2020
In April 22 correspondence with Governor Pritzer, IASCA joined organizations representing ASCs in three other states to request that our respective governors allow elective surgeries to resume as certain criteria are met... Read More

IASCA to Governor: Allow ASTCs to Use Their Expertise During Pandemic Response

posted: April 6, 2020
In April 6, 2020, correspondence with Governor JB Pritzker, IASCA President Sarah Gardner, CASC, calls for a review of laws and regulations that “prevent ASTCs from serving as alternative sites of service and... Read More

IASCA Asserts “ASTCs’ Unique Role” During Healthcare Emergency

posted: March 26, 2020
In March 25, 2020, correspondence with Governor JB Pritzker, IASCA President Sarah Gardner, CASC, explained that “ASTCs’ unique role in the healthcare delivery system must be leveraged to our state’s best... Read More

IASCA Calls for Support of Healthcare Providers During COVID-19 Crisis

posted: March 23, 2020
In correspondence dated March 23, 2020, IASCA President Sarah Gardner urged U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin to support economic relief for ambulatory surgery centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.The letter... Read More

IASCA Update: New Medicare ASC Guidelines on Transfer Agreements, H&P Assessments

posted: October 21, 2019
Pursuant to a final Medicare regulation published Sept. 25, 2019, several changes to Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Conditions for Coverage/Conditions for Certification (CfCs) become effective Nov. 29, 2019, that... Read More

Laser Safety: Beyond Signs and Goggles

posted: August 22, 2019
Penny J. Smalley, RN, CMLSOLasers in medicine and surgery have become commonplace. The number of laser wavelengths, delivery systems, manufacturers, and clinical applications have greatly increased, resulting in laser use... Read More

Proposed 2020 Medicare Payment Rule Adds Total Knee Arthroplasty

posted: August 6, 2019
In an annual summer ritual, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System for next year on July 29. Overall, the agency proposes raising payments for... Read More

ASTC Licensing Board Recommends IASCA Proposal for Adoption

posted: June 18, 2019
An animating force behind reformation of the state association for ambulatory surgery centers was the desire to help ensure sustained excellence in Illinois’ ASC industry by providing a forum for informational... Read More

IASCA Takes on Springfield

posted: May 17, 2019
IASCA headed down state on April 24th to host the 2019 Springfield Conference. The conference provided an opportunity for our members to network with colleagues, learn from industry experts, and advocate for ASCs at the... Read More

IASCA Proposes Amendment at ASTC Licensing Board Meeting

posted: March 26, 2019
Representatives of IASCA recently attended the ASTC Licensing Board meeting earlier this month to propose amendments to the state’s physician presence rules. Specifically, the amendment seeks to change the rules... Read More

101st General Assembly Inauguration

posted: January 31, 2019
On Wednesday, January 9th, Illinois’ 101st General Assembly was formally sworn into office. However, J.B. Pritzker, the new governor, will not be sworn in until the 14th of January. This discrepancy forced outgoing... Read More

2018 At a Glance

posted: December 7, 2018
2018 was a year of exciting growth for the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center and exceeded all expectations. All facets of IASCA have grown exponentially in the past year and we hope to continue this trend through 2019 and... Read More

Workers’ Compensation Protection Legislation Becomes Law

posted: December 7, 2018
The Illinois Senate and Senate recently voted overwhelmingly to override the Governor's veto of SB 904, which provides workers' compensation providers the ability to collect on unpaid claims from insurers.The bill,... Read More

IASCA Member Recognized with Prestigious Award

posted: December 6, 2018
Effingham Surgery Center has been named a recipient of the 2018 Press Ganey Guardian Of Excellence Award. The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award is a nationally-recognized symbol of achievement in health care. Press... Read More

Illinois ASC Industry Gathers for IASCA's 2nd Annual Meeting

posted: December 6, 2018
On October 30 – 31, 2018, IASCA held its 2nd Annual Meeting in Oak Brook, IL. The two day meeting offered IASCA members a unique opportunity to network with colleagues and learn from industry experts, while earning... Read More

IASCA Hosts Sara Wojcicki-Jimenez on Facility Tour

posted: November 14, 2018
On Thursday, November 8th, Representative Sarah Wojcicki-Jimenez toured the Springfield Clinic’s Ambulatory Surgery and Endoscopy Center. Many Illinois lawmakers are unaware of the number of cases that ASCs in the... Read More

IASCA Comments on ASC & Outpatient Payment Rule

posted: September 28, 2018
Earlier this summer, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on ASC and hospital outpatient department (HOPD) reimbursement. The proposal contained a number of items that would be... Read More

IASCA hosts U.S. Representative Darin LaHood

posted: August 28, 2018
On August 13th U.S. Representative Darin LaHood took the opportunity to tour IASCA President Sarah Gardner’s Center for Orthopedic Medicine in Bloomington Illinois.Representative LaHood supported the ASC Payment... Read More

Kaiser Health News Releases Follow Story on ASCs

posted: August 13, 2018
IASCA members should be aware of a new piece published by Kaiser Health News Network that portrays the safety of the ASC industry in a negative light. The story, published in tandem with USA Today, is running in Kaiser... Read More

Conference Summary: Becker's 16th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference

posted: July 2, 2018
Edited by: Ross E. WeberThe theme of the June 2018 Becker’s Healthcare meeting dedicated to orthopedic-driven ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) was Improving Profits, Business and Legal Issues. The event provided an... Read More

IASCA Presents at June ASTC Licensing Board Meeting

posted: June 20, 2018
On June 13th, 2018 IASCA took the opportunity to attend the June meeting of the Illinois ASTC Licensing Board.The meeting began with discussion of the board’s ongoing administrative business, before gaining a quorum... Read More

Spring in Springfield

posted: May 16, 2018
IASCA headed down state to Springfield, IL, on May 8, 2018, to hold the association’s first annual Springfield Conference. The conference provided a convenient opportunity for our southern members to network with... Read More

ASTC Licensing Board Holds Meeting

posted: May 1, 2018
The ASTC Licensing Board is a Governor appointed advisory board, consisting of practicing physicians, nurses, administrators, and general public representatives. The Board advises Department of Public Health on licensing... Read More

ASCQR Reporting Deadline Approaching

posted: April 30, 2018
On October 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program.  The program is a quality measure data pay-for-reporting program... Read More

Kaiser Health News Makes Dubious Claims About ASC Safety

posted: March 2, 2018
In collaboration with USA Today, Kaiser Health News Network recently released a piece claiming that the ASC industry has ignored safety concerns in pursuit of profits.The piece has appeared on USA Today’s website... Read More

US Representative Peter Roskam Visits ASC

posted: February 28, 2018
(L – R): William Prentice, Rep. Peter Roskam , Ron Ladniak, Lee Campuzano(L – R): Laura Rubicz, Beth Ball, Toneisha Myers, Ron Ladniak, Natasha Trifunovski, Peter Roskam, Kersten SchmidtOn February... Read More

IASCA Excited to Work with Representative Dan Brady

posted: December 20, 2017
On Tuesday, December 12th, IASCA hosted its inaugural fundraising event for Representative Dan Brady at Northwest Community Healthcare Day Surgery Center in Arlington Heights. We were pleased with the success of the event... Read More

IASCA Hosts First Annual Meeting

posted: December 7, 2017
Jeany Dunaway, RN, CASCIASCA held its first Annual Meeting at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference in Oak Brook, Illinois on November 2nd.  The meeting was a great success with almost 80... Read More

Representative Andersson Tours the Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center

posted: November 15, 2017
IASCA was pleased to host Representative Steven Andersson (65th) on a tour of the Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center on Tuesday, November 14th. Physicians and staff members at the Valley ASC engaged in an in depth discussion... Read More

Senator Barickman Visits the Center for Outpatient Medicine

posted: November 13, 2017
IASCA was pleased to host State Senator Jason Barickman (53rd) on a tour of the Center for Outpatient Medicine on Monday, November 13th. Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) staff members were able show Senator Barickman... Read More

Senator Tom Rooney Tours Local ASC

posted: October 19, 2017
On Wednesday, October 18th, the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association was pleased to host Senator Rooney (Il – 27th) at the Northwest Community Day Surgery Center. Senator Rooney was able to learn about ASCs... Read More

IASCA Hosts Representative John Cabello

posted: September 13, 2017
On Tuesday, September 12th, the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association was pleased to host Representative John Cabello  (Il – 68th) at the Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center. Representative Cabello was... Read More

Representative Lou Lang Visits his Local ASC

posted: September 6, 2017
On Wednesday, September 6th, the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association was pleased to host Representative Lou Lang (Il – 16th) at the NovaMed Surgery Center of Chicago’s Northshore. Representative Lang... Read More

IASCA Hosts Representative Dan Brady

posted: August 30, 2017
On Wednesday, August 30th, the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association was pleased to host Representative Dan Brady (Il – 105th) at the Center for Orthopedic Medicine in Bloomington, Illinois. Tour hosts... Read More

Governor Vetoes Workers’ Compensation Bills

posted: August 28, 2017
Over the course of the past week, two pieces of workers’ compensation reform legislation reached Governor Bruce Rauner’s desk only to be vetoed.The first of these bills, House Bill 2622, authorized the... Read More

U.S. Representative John Shimkus Tours his Local Ambulatory Surgery Center

posted: August 17, 2017
On Thursday, August 17th, the Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association was excited to host U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R – IL) at the Effingham Surgery Center. Tour hosts were able to show Representative... Read More

NCCI Premium Recommendations Released during Heated SB 1 Debate

posted: August 3, 2017
The education funding bill (SB 1) continues to dominate headlines and discussion in Springfield as the Governor’s amendatory veto is debated by the legislature. It is unclear as of yet whether the Democratic... Read More

Lawmakers Eye Next Steps in Wake of Budget Deal

posted: July 7, 2017
Illinois’s three-year budget saga finally reached a resolution on Thursday, July 6th, as the Illinois House voted in concurrence with the state Senate to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s total veto of the... Read More

IASCA Ramps up Recruiting Efforts, Hosts Meet n’ Greet at Becker’s meeting in Chicago

posted: July 5, 2017
The Illinois Ambulatory Surgical Center Association (IASCA) recently held a meeting at the annual Becker’s Conference in Chicago to engage potential new members. The new association intends to give a unified voice to... Read More

IASCA Association Management

posted: June 16, 2017
We are very pleased to announce that, effective immediately, IASCA is being managed by W.J. Weiser & Associates, Inc. (Weiser), located in Schaumburg, Illinois. Weiser is a full service association management firm... Read More