Advancing Surgical Care Podcast

Send us a text In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice is joined by HST Pathways Chief Executive Officer David Thawley for an in-depth discussion about the company’s recently released “State of the Industry Report: Best Practices & Industry Benchmarks for Optimizing ASC Operations.” Prentice and Thawley discuss several of the trends in ASC care and management in 2024, including specializations on the rise, operating room efficiencies, revenue cycle management and a host of best practices that emerged from examining the operational data and reporting of 590 ASCs across 47 states. To access a free copy of the report, visit the HST Pathways website.

Send us a text In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice and ASCA Chief Advocacy Officer Kara Newbury preview ASCA’s public policy priorities for 2025, including improved Medicare reimbursement for ASCs, additions to the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL) and removal of several ASC Quality Reporting Program measures. During their discussion, Prentice and Newbury talk in detail about positively positioning ASCs for the current national political environment, where overall health spending reductions and regulatory reform are already taking precedence in the new Congress and administration.

Send us a text In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA President Mark Wainner discusses the current shortage of anesthesia providers confronting ASC operators with Alfonso del Granado, ASCA Board member and administrator of Covenant High Plains Surgery Centers in Lubbock, Texas. Del Granado shares some of the management techniques he employs to better use anesthesia providers within the facilities he oversees. Chief among the recommendations that del Granado makes are some detailed examples of how to efficiently schedule anesthesia providers, as well as managing a profitable mix of patients who have commercial or government insurance.

Send us a text In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with ASCA Chief Advocacy Officer Kara Newbury about the 2025 final ASC payment rule that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released November 1. Bill and Kara discuss the results of the annual rulemaking process on the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL), the inflationary adjustment and reimbursements for specific surgical procedures, and ASC quality reporting requirements for the coming year. They also consider ways the recent presidential and congressional elections and the impending change in the administration could impact surgery centers.

Send us a text In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Advocacy Officer Kara Newbury leads a discussion with Dr. David Kenigsberg, a Florida-based clinical cardiac electrophysiologist and a member of ASCA’s Cardiovascular Working Group. This short but insightful program focuses on the kinds of cardiovascular procedures that are being safely performed in the outpatient setting today as well as ASCA’s efforts to persuade the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to add additional cardiovascular procedures to its ASC Covered Procedures List.