New Legislation Offers Floridians Increased Access to Same-Day Surgical Care in Safe, Community-Based Settings

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Floridians for Better Community Care:

Florida's House Health & Human Services Committee today hosted a workshop to examine the need for extended recovery time in Florida's 400 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which perform same-day surgical procedures and treat an estimated 1.5 million patients each year across the state.  The legislation (HB 999) was introduced by Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (R-78) and passed the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee last week.

This bill, which the House Health & Human Services Committee passed today, would allow patients to safely recuperate in an ASC for up to 23 hours following minimally invasive surgical procedures.  Under current Florida law, patients must leave the ASC at the end of the business day and therefore often face transfer to another facility for further recuperative care, which increases costs and exposes patients to potential infections.

"Most patients undergoing a procedure in our centers can expect the entire process – from admission to discharge – to take no more than a few hours," Donna Holland, Administrator of Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery and Laser Center, told the Committee. "However, no two situations are the same. Some patients require additional time to recover from the effects of anesthesia or post-surgical pain, which can be safely accommodated in the ASC setting."

ASCs are fully regulated by federal and state entities and are evaluated by independent parties for state licensure, Medicare certification, and accreditation. ASCs are staffed with licensed registered nurses trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support as well as MD anesthesiologists, who remain on site daily until the last patient is discharged.

Advocates for HB 999 also noted that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and 34 states have already implemented laws allowing for 23-hour stays in an ASC.   

This legislation has the potential to significantly reduce healthcare spending for patients, employers and insurers through reduced institutional admissions and cost-effective care delivery.  For example, federal data demonstrate that ASCs are paid nearly half - 55 percent - by Medicare for the same surgical procedures delivered in the hospital outpatient department (HOPD).  Nationwide, data show ASCs saved the federal Medicare program $7.5 billion from 2008-2011. 

Holland and other advocates expressed strong support for HB 999, calling it a pro-patient solution that will prevent transfers that increase costs and unnecessarily put patients at risk.

Added Holland, "We are so grateful for the Committee's support of HB 999, which will help patients and reduce costs for taxpayers and employers.  This is excellent policy that we hope all Florida lawmakers will pass."

Across Florida, approximately 400 ASCs offer patients access to approximately 3,500 skilled surgical procedures in in a safe, patient preferred and community-based setting.

SOURCE Floridians for Better Community Care