News & Announcements
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 indicating that as COVID-19 cases continue to surge, CMS will temporarily exercise survey enforcement discretion regarding the 24-hour timeframe to allow patients to remain in the ASC longer, if needed, during the COVID-19 public health emergency. During a call on December 1 with CMS senior officials that ASCA members were invited to attend, CMS staff indicated that while the 24-hour stay limitation will remain in place for ASCs, the agency would use its enforcement discretion during the PHE. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports that state regulators not inclined to issue emergency rules that would allow such a change to be implemented in the state.
Healthcare coalition requests extension of Medicare sequestration waiver
(ASCA Government Affairs Update, February 4, 2021)
On February 2, ASCA joined several healthcare organizations in sending a letter to congressional leadership requesting that Medicare sequestration be further suspended throughout the duration of the public health emergency). This letter builds upon the association’s previous advocacy efforts last year with a broad base of provider associations. As you will recall, H.R.133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, suspended sequestration through March 31. The PHE has been extended through April 20, and it seems that it will be extended through the end of the year.
IASCA officer comments on ASCs access to COVID-19 vaccine
(Becker’s ASC Review, January 7, 2021)
Independent physicians don’t have access to the COVID-19 vaccine in some communities because hospitals are prioritizing their own employees. Independent ASCs across the U.S. have reported similar experiences in the weeks since the vaccine became available. If surgeons or centers had a partnership with hospitals, they have had access to the vaccine. But those ASCs without a relationship with local hospitals are reaching out to local health departments for help. The staff of Illinois Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center in Morton Grove also lack access to the vaccine as a standalone facility. Administrator Lawrence Parrish said the center and its affiliated orthopedic surgery practice submitted documents to the Illinois health department to eventually receive the vaccine at the ASC, but doesn’t have a timetable for when they will get it.
“We are fully prepared to administer and document the administration of COVID-19 vaccine to our staff,” said Mr. Parrish. “However, we will be unable to utilize Pfizer’s vaccine because of the ultra-cold storage requirement. We do have the capacity to store Moderna’s vaccine.”
State funds approved to address health care disparities
(Capital News Illinois, January 29, 2021)
A measure passed by the Illinois General Assembly January 13 provides $150 million in state Medicaid money for each of the next seven years to fund new innovative community initiatives that aim to improve health and medical care in the most needy areas of the state. In short, the bill makes about $150 million a year available to local communities to form partnerships that will develop and implement plans that improve medical access, with a focus on the uninsured and Medicaid users. The funds are meant for “integrated” health care, such as community-based services, preventive care, obstetric care, chronic disease management and specialists. Funding for the grants will come from a statewide hospital assessment to earn federal dollars, which lawmakers renewed during the abbreviated regular session in May, combined with federal matching funds for Medicaid.
A study prepared last year for the state agency identified South and West Chicago, suburban Cook County and the East St. Louis area as communities with the greatest need for better health care. Illinois Hospital Association Chief Executive A.J. Wilhelmi praised the program saying he hopes it will “reduce health disparities and inequities that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in communities of color.”
Healthcare coalition requests extension of Medicare sequestration waiver
(ASCA Government Affairs Update, February 4, 2021)
On February 2, ASCA joined several healthcare organizations in sending a letter to congressional leadership requesting that Medicare sequestration be further suspended throughout the duration of the public health emergency). This letter builds upon the association’s previous advocacy efforts last year with a broad base of provider associations. As you will recall, H.R.133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, suspended sequestration through March 31. The PHE has been extended through April 20, and it seems that it will be extended through the end of the year.
Illinois Health Director testifies before U.S. Congress
(The Center Square, February 3, 2021)
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike testified before federal lawmakers February 2, saying better communication and more financial support would help with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Illinois is in the bottom six states in terms of the percentage of vaccines they’ve administered as compared to how many they’ve received, according to the New York Times. Only Idaho, Missouri, Iowa, Alabama, and Kansas had administered lower percentages of first shots.
Coalition renews push for prior authorization reform
(Capital Fax, February 9, 2021)
The Your Care Can’t Wait Coalition, a group of healthcare and patient advocacy organizations, announced their support of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. The comprehensive, bipartisan bill was introduced to address patient and physician concerns about the bureaucratic delays caused by the prior authorization processes used by state-regulated health insurance plans. The use of prior authorization has exploded in recent years as a cost-cutting measure by health plans, at the expense of patient care. The Prior Authorization Reform Act will establish consistent timelines so patients don’t have to worry about decision-making delays causing further damage to their health. The legislation will also make sure prior authorization requirements are based on medical evidence and administered by qualified individuals.
Durbin, Schneider bill aims to boost U.S. PPE production
(Press Release, February 10, 2021)
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced bipartisan legislation to address shortages of personal protective equipment and testing supplies. The Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Act would boost domestic PPE and testing supply production and promote a more sustainable supply chain by ensuring more predictable, dedicated funding from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to American manufacturers of applicable medical supplies. The reliance on foreign sources for manufacturing has contributed to the alarming shortages and price spikes of respirators, masks, and nitrile gloves for health care workers, as well as reagents, swabs, and other materials for diagnostic testing. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 95 percent of surgical masks and 75 percent of N95 respirators are made overseas.