Virtual Town Hall this Thursday!

 

Join us this Thursday for our next topic in our Town Hall series

Controlled Medication Logs in the ASC 

Collaborate with these two speakers to discuss this important topic on the 28th.  

 

This is a members-only benefit and you must register to get access. 

To sign up for a membership, please fill out our application. 

GL 20-2020-A Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Services and Reporting Requirements in Response to COVID-19 Amended

GL 20-2020-A Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Services and Reporting Requirements in Response to COVID-19 Amended

GL 20-2020-A, regarding the extension of emergency rule amendments related to ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services and reporting requirements in response to COVID-19, has been posted. Effective January 21, 2021, the emergency rule amendments are extended for 60 days and temporarily permit licensed ASCs to do the following:

  • expand treatment options to include other health care services, not surgical services alone;
  • allow for patient stays longer than 23 hours; and
  • not report longer patient stays and hospital transfers.

Please read the letter and if you have questions, contact [email protected].

Legislative Recap WE 1/22/21

From our TASCS Lobbyist


The highlight of this week was the House and Senate releasing their base budgets for the 2022-2023 biennium. Both chambers proposed General Revenue expenditures of $119.7 billion, staying under the Legislative Budget Board’s 7.06 percent spending limit. Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson referenced the “many tools available to balance this budget, which will require us to re-establish our priorities, stretch every dollar and find more efficient ways to deliver services.” The budgets are notably similar, prioritizing teacher’s retirement funding and the investments in public education that were made last session, providing funding for Medicaid caseload growth, and increasing funding for mental health initiatives. Budget hearings are predicted to begin in February. 
 
Both chambers will convene on January 26th, and the House will convene again on the 27th, before adjourning until the following Tuesday, February 2nd.  Remember also that the race to replace former Rep. Drew Springer in House District 68 will be Saturday, January 23rd. We will send out a report as soon as the results are in.
 
On Thursday, President Joe Biden’s Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed new COVID-19 variants found in South Africa and Brazil. Early evidence suggests that the new variants show greater resistance to the body’s immune response than the dominant strain, and could potentially slightly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine.  He underscored the importance of widespread mask-wearing and immunization.
 
President Biden also released the new administration’s National Strategy for The COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The document outlines a strategy to mitigate the spread of the virus through expanded mask-wearing, testing, and public health guidance; utilize the Defense Production Act to increase production of vaccination and testing supplies; advance health equity for racial and ethnic groups disproportionately affected by the virus; and increase protections for workers while reopening schools and businesses. This strategy was accompanied by multiple COVID-19-specific executive orders.
 
This week, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) received 333,650 first doses of COVID-19. DSHS requested that those doses be shipped to 260 providers across the state, including 77 large hub providers.
Texas Headlines
Toxic substance or water supply? Lawmakers to weigh whether wastewater from oil fields could replenish the state's aquifers
 

Success in scramble to succeed Sen. Springer in the Texas House could rely on shifting population
 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Statement on the Texas Senate Budget
 

TribCast: What the new Biden administration means for Texas
 

Texas employers applaud bills to prevent surprise taxes on PPP loans
 

Health officials issue dire warning as Texas sees its worst COVID-19 outbreak
 

Watch: New Texas senators discuss plans to address COVID-19’s impact on health, businesses
 

Reversing Donald Trump policy, Joe Biden will include undocumented immigrants in critical census count
 

Pandemic drives worst annual job losses on record for Texas
 

Texas has a problem with its COVID-19 vaccination data, and the stakes are high. Now the state is scrambling to solve it.
 

Dan Patrick asks Texas to revise coronavirus vaccine distribution plan as eligible people experience frustration trying to locate a dose
What to Expect Next Week
View this document for scheduled legislative meetings. 
Priority Bill Tracking Report
Please click HERE to review bills tracked through January 22, 2021.
Relevant State & Federal COVID-19 Updates from the Week
Please click HERE to read the COVID-19 Updates from the week. 

Texas announces COVID-19 vaccine allocation for week of Jan. 25

Texas announces COVID-19 vaccine allocation for week of Jan. 25

The state of Texas will receive 332,750 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government next week. The Texas Department of State Health Services has instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ship those doses to 212 providers across Texas. That includes 82 hub providers that will focus on larger community vaccination efforts and 130 additional providers as Texas continues to vaccinate health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, people 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

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Weekly Membership Poll

Are you asking patients if they have had the COVID-19 vaccine?

Let us know! We appreciate your participation in our membership polls. Answer this quick question below. 

https://www.texasascsociety.org/are-you-asking-patients-if-they-have-had-the-covid-19-vaccine

Legislative Recap WE 1/16/21

From our TASCS Lobbyist

Opening week of the 87thLegislative Session started with better-than-expected news from the Comptroller of Public Accounts. While previous estimates warned of a $4.6 billion deficit, revised estimates place that closer to $1 billion. Additionally, we are entering the session with $112.5 billion available for general-purpose spending during the 2022-23 biennium, just 4% shy of the funds available for the previous session. This is a relief for budget-writers as they try to craft a balanced budget.
 
On Tuesday, the Texas House and Senate gaveled in the 87thTexas Legislature. Rep. Dade Phelan was sworn in as the Speaker of the House of Representatives while Sen. Brian Birdwell was elected President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate. Both chambers are now adjourned until January 26th, but the rules of procedure were passed before their departure. The most significant change to the Senate rules was a measure lowering the threshold of votes required to bring a bill to the floor to 18 votes, or a three-fifths majority.  Not coincidentally, there are 18 Republicans in the Texas Senate.
 
In the House, the most controversial alteration to the rules was removed almost as quickly as it was introduced. The “Consensus Calendar” was intended to address the time-constraints of the 87thSession and would be charged with bills which, “…in the opinion of the Committee on Calendars, could be considered expeditiously with limited debate.” This provision would include restricted time for speeches and disincentives to introducing amendments during second reading. It was struck from the rules on Thursday with an amendment introduced by Rep. Todd Hunter.
 
Both sets of rules contain amendments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The House rules relax the restrictions around emergency adjournment, require face coverings, and expand the information required in hearing notices to ensure access for constituents, but do not allow for virtual testimony. The Senate rules do not directly allude to the pandemic, but consolidate and streamline operations by removing the Committees on Agriculture and Property Tax, adding the Committee on Jurisprudence, and renaming the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations as the Committee on Local Government and the Committee on Water and Rural Affairs as the Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. The rules also restrict media presence to a designated press area, rather than the whole floor.
 
The rules for both chambers also address redistricting, which will likely take place in a special session as the latest Census numbers are not expected until April. While neither set of rules specifically addresses COVID-19, the Senate rules allow for videoconferencing during regional hearings if a) those meetings are held the capitol and the witness is not in the same physical location, b) the witness is clearly visible and audible, and c) they submit a witness affirmation form prior to testifying.
 
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick released committee assignments which can be found here.  House Committee preference requests from members are due on January 22nd. We will send out a release as soon as committee assignments are posted.  
 
Late last week, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released the COVID-19 vaccination hub provider locations. Twenty-eight large providers will receive 158,825 doses of vaccine, allocated according to the number of people each provider estimated it could vaccinate in a week. DSHS and the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) have released an updated provider map displaying first and second dose availability from providers around the state.













 

Texas Headlines

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2021 Payment Rules Affecting Pharmacy

2021 Payment Rules Affecting Pharmacy

As we move into the new outpatient/ambulatory payment year still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating payment rules across sites of care and ensuring that pharmacy is in sync with their organization’s overall strategies are essential. Themes finalized in the rule sets are: embrace patient centricity, continue to simplify (electronic health record requirements and reporting, regulations), cut costs and save money, and not lose focus on pharmacy’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

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2021 OPPS Effects

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Recap of J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference

Day 2 Notes for the 39th Annual J.P Morgan Healthcare Conference, 2021

It’s Day 2 of the J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference at its finest – looking closely at healthcare inequities, strategic business shifts and killer robots, all in the same day! (Yes, we did say killer robots and it’s your reward for reading all the way to the end of this article).

Healthcare Equity:

We have moved from last year’s significant emphasis at the JPM Conference on social determinants of health (SDOH) initiatives to a broader discussion of healthcare equity, social justice, diversity and anti-racism, as voiced by many health plans and health systems. Stephen Klasko, Chief Executive Officer of Jefferson Health, said that, “Health disparities are the #1 public health crisis in our nation.” As many noted at the Conference, the COVID-19 crisis is clear evidence that minority and economically disadvantaged communities are medically underserved and bear a higher burden of illness than their more affluent neighbors. Many of the healthcare companies presenting at the Conference expressed their commitment to work to improve those inequities. We look forward to what we will see at next year’s JPM Conference. It also was refreshing to see women Chief Executive Officers presenting at the Conference for leading healthcare companies, like Karen Lynch, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of CVS Health. Kudos for this year’s markedly increased presence on the podium of  women in leadership – CEO’s, CFO’s and CSO’s, among others.

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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Update of the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System

CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

ASC Payment System Update Effective January 1, 2021

On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act modified the Calendar Year (CY) 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), providing a 3.75 percent increase in MPFS payments. CMS recalculated Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) rates for office-based covered surgical procedures and certain covered ancillary radiology services and diagnostic tests, as well as the budget neutrality adjustment applied to all ASC procedure payment rates.

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2021 Membership Renewals & Sponsorship

Your membership is a partnership with TASCS and your fellow members. You make a difference in the lives of many families in your community. TASCS membership allows you to share your news and challenges with industry experts. Help us identify key issues for you and your business. Let us help you grow and promote your company/association. TASCS needs your support to help achieve our mutual goals.

2021 looks to be another challenging year for the ASC Industry. Membership in TASCS is the key to staying informed regarding ASC Legislative issues in Texas. We have a considerable amount of work to do during the 87th Legislative Session. No other association can provide the resources and educational opportunities from a LOCAL perspective. TASCS is working diligently for YOU and your local programs at the Texas Capitol.

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Get Involved!

Make change happen! Getting involved with membership organizations, such as TASCS, is essential in the success of your professional development, creating valuable partnerships and is truly the best way for progression in the ASC Industry.

 Have you ever pondered…? “Why did they select that topic for education?” or “Why are we focused on this Legislative topic?.” Perhaps you have even thought, “What am I getting out of my membership?” Your ideas are relevant, and your engagement is key to our success.

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TASCS Membership Directory

It’s a great time of year update your information. Stand out by adding your logo. Ensure you’re searchable to not only the ASC audience but to the public as well.  

COVID19 Vaccine TownHall January 14th

More Information...

Save the Date- Infection Control Week!

More information soon!

Membership Monday

 

Jeff Blankinship grew up in Plano, Texas, and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1986. He started in healthcare in 1989, in Los Angeles, California, as he was a part of the group that started Pain Relief Network, a regional pain management facility covering Southern California and Arizona. In 1994, when moving back to Texas, he ran several home health companies before entering back into the ASC space. In 1996, he was hired by Amedisys, out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to run and develop an ambulatory surgery center in Houston. In 1999, he met his wife, who was a transcriptionist in Dallas; at that time, they created Surgical Notes, an integrated internet medical records service and software company, which grew organically and developed many useful applications such as ScanChart, SnCoder and SNChart. 

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Introducing the TASCS Blog

We are excited to introduce the TASCS Blog beginning in 2021! 
This is yet another way that your association is providing you relevant, up-to-date information that is critical to our ASC industry. 
Check back regularly for more! You never know what you'll find. 
And be sure to follow us on social media for live updates.   

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

In case you missed it! Read this important article about the signing of H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and what it means for you.

https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/resourcecenter/latestnewsresourcecenter/covid-19/covid-19-end-of-year-legislation

TASCS President Dr. Kim Persley gets Vaccine

TASCS President Dr. Kim Persley gets VaccineTASCS President Dr. Kim Persley was part of the first phase of healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in late December. "As a physician working directly with patients, I felt it was important to vaccinate myself to help keep the virus from spreading and to help create a safe environment for my patients."

ASC workers across the state are getting their vaccinations to help maintain a safe place for patients to get their needed procedures.