COVID UPDATES & RESOURCES
CMS Issues Guidance Regarding Compliance With Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued regulations and guidance regarding the requirement that health care staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. (The US Supreme Court recently affirmed CMS’ authority to mandate the vaccination of health care personnel.) This regulation and guidance document sets forth the requirements that ASCs must meet to…
Supreme Court Ruling on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
The Supreme Court has issued mixed rulings this afternoon regarding COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The two decisions are: The COVID-19 vaccine requirement for certain health care workers WILL go into effect. Private companies of 100+ employees WILL NOT be required to mandate employees vaccination. We will communicate as we learn more information regarding implementation and timeline.…
Biden Administration COVID-19 Six-Point Plan Will Likely Affect Ophthalmic ASCs
On March 28, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it had expanded its Accelerated and Advance Program to provide financial relief to a broad group of Medicare suppliers and providers. This program will increase cash flow to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambulatory surgical centers ARE eligible for these payments.
GLITCHES, DELAYS, & FRUSTRATION: UPDATE ON OBTAINING ACCESS TO NEW COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS
Yesterday, OOSS reported that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that healthcare providers, including ASCs, will be eligible to receive grants from a newly available pool of COVID-19 relief funds.
OOSS Perspective 2020 Virtual Meeting
Bruce Maller, a well-respected industry expert and life-long friend of OOSS, will provide strategies, insight, and tools to help ASCs physician-owners and administrators lead their teams through change and plan for success in the new reality.
RE-OPENING FACILITIES TO PROVIDE NON-COVID CARE DURING PHASE ONE, INCLUDING SURGERY CENTERS
These guidelines focus on issues that should be of concern to providers considering re-opening their practices and facilities if states and localities so permit.
ACS, ASA, AHA, AORN ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING RESUMING ELECTIVE SURGERY AFTER FIRST WAVE OF COVID-19
The Statement sets forth principles and considerations to guide physicians and facilities in their resumption of care in operating rooms and all procedural areas, including...
FEDERAL GUIDELINES ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR PROVIDING ELECTIVE SURGERIES DURING REOPENING OF ECONOMY
On Thursday evening, April 16, the federal government issued revised guidelines, Opening Up America Again, establishing three phases for reopening the economy. With respect to ambulatory surgery centers, the policy suggests that “elective surgeries can resume, as clinically appropriate, on an outpatient basis at facilities that adhere to CDC guidelines” once a state or region meets certain “gating criteria.”
OPTIONS FOR YOUR ASC TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNDER CONTRACT WITH LOCAL HOSPITAL
CMS has also modified its rules regarding the option to convert ASCs to hospital status during the COVID-19 pandemic. View a summary of these changes.
HHS announces $30B in grants to medicare providers, including ASCs
Today, April 10, 2020, the payments will begin to arrive via direct deposit to eligible providers. An email with the subject line "CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: Action Required" was sent this morning on behalf of HHS to eligible providers.
CMS Issues Guidance for Surgery Centers Temporarily Enrolling As Hospitals During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
On April 3, CMS issued a Quality, Safety & Oversight memorandum QSO-20-24-ASC addressed to state survey agencies to provide guidance on processing applications from ASCs that are temporarily enrolling as hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MCG PODCAST- Practical Steps for Managing Your Practice’s or ASC’s Unique Situation During COVID-19
MCG sat down to discuss practical steps they have used for their own clients to sort through the large amount of “broad-brush” tips and implement those that apply to an individual business.
CMS announces accelerated payments for healthcare providers
On March 28, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it had expanded its Accelerated and Advance Program to provide financial relief to a broad group of Medicare suppliers and providers. This program will increase cash flow to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambulatory surgical centers ARE eligible for these payments.
Leading Your ASC Through the COVID-19 Crisis- Webinar on March 31
Join us for a webinar series next Tuesday and Thursday designed to help you lead your ASC through the COVID-19 crisis. The series is free to OOSS members and brought to you by Progressive Surgical Solutions, a Division of BSM Consulting with participation from OOSS.
Register for “Business Survival Through the COVID-19 Crisis” Webinar – March 26th @ 11AM PT
BSM Founder and CEO Bruce Maller will be hosting a webinar titled "Business Survival Through the COVID-19 Crisis" on Thursday, March 26th @ 11AM PT.
CMS RECOMMENDS LIMIT ON NON-ESSENTIAL PLANNED SURGERIES, INCLUDING POSTPONEMENT OF CATARACT PROCEDURES
On March 18, CMS issued a series of recommendations regarding the furnishing of all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures based on the need to conserve critical resources...
COVID-19 Update and Information
The clinical experts differ somewhat on local response to performing medically-necessary elective surgeries. Review information for ophthalmologists and ASC leaders to adapt to the unique situation in your area.
COVID-19 PLANS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PATIENTS AND ASC STAFF
In the current and ever-changing COVID-19 environment, we know that each ophthalmic ASC is responding with plans and procedures to ensure health and safety of patients and ASC staff. There is much information being communicated by trusted organizations, as well as media. Find resources and information...
OOSS is monitoring the latest updates on COVID-19 and how it is affecting (or could affect) ophthalmic outpatient surgery centers. On this page, we will share key information and links to updates as they are made available by a range of credible medical organizations.
- ASCA - COVID-19: A Message to ASCs
- Arnold & Porter - Coronavirus: Emerging Challenges
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Ambulatory Surgery Centers Association
- American Medical Association
- American College of Surgeons
- American Hospital Association
- Arnold & Porter practical and legal issues for employers
- Arnold & Porter supply chain management
- CMS Adult Elective Surgery and Procedures Recommendations (as of 3/19)
- ASCA Statement on Resuming Elective Surgery as the COVID-19 Pandemic Recedes
Should you have any questions, please contact our Washington Counsel, Michael Romansky, JD at mromansky@OOSS.org or our Executive Director, Diane Blanck at dblanck@OOSS.org.