The updates and response to COVID-19 rapidly change each day. As you are responding to the needs of your patients, ASC and community, we are working to provide you with resources to assist you in navigating the pandemic response.
CASA continues to work with state, federal, ASCA and industry leaders in response to the pandemic. As California is prepping for a patient surge, it is likely that some ASCs will be called upon to provide patient care outside their normal operations. CASA has provided communication to the Governor regarding different options where ASCs may be able to fill the gap. These responses range from a variety of options including migrating urgent hospital surgical services to the ASC, transforming ASCs to urgent care centers, up to the most complex of converting ASCs to ICUs. You can read CASA's recommendation here.
ASCs should be considering these options and their potential response and how you would implement in your area. Medial Health Operations Area Coordinators (MHOAC) will be reaching out to ASCs in the coming days if not already.
As the State and counties consider utilizing ASCs, we need to provide them with the capacity and equipment that ASCs may be able to provide. If you have yet to participate, please take our short survey to help identify our current health care resources as we all scramble to deal with the COVID-19 emergency.
CASA/CMA Press Release
ASC Inventory Survey
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced relief for providers and suppliers with regard to quality reporting programs. ASC data submissions for CY 2019 services due May 15,2020, are voluntary and, due to the timing, no ASCs will receive a payment penalty for not submitting data. Any data submitted will be publicly reported. CASA will be opening the CASA benchmarking portal for the 1st quarter on April 1, 2020. Although no deadline extension of data entry is set at this time, it is likely that the deadline for submission will extend pass the May 15th deadline.
As the President has declared a national emergency, it allows the secretary of the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to waive certain federal requirements. CMS has issued a number of “blanket waivers” that ease regulatory requirements for certain providers. The following waiver as been approved for California. Included in the waiver is a provision of services in alternative settings which could apply to ASCs. California ASCs may need a further waiver from Governor Newsom regarding length of stay and provider credentialing. According to the waiver, the placing facility would be responsible for determining how to reimburse the ASC. This arrangement would only be effective for the duration of the section 1135 waiver.
Additional Updates
CASA & ASCA Consensus response on COVID-19
All ASCs should adopt the following:
Additional Tools and Consideration
Signs and Posters
Economic Issues