Ambulatory surgery centers must begin using a safe surgery checklist by January 1, 2012, in order to comply with a new Medicare quality reporting program, says the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA).
In 2013, all Medicare-certified ASCs will be required to report whether they used such a checklist during the entire year of 2012. For an ASC to be able to report that they did, it must begin using the checklist no later than January 1, 2012, and continue using it through the entire year, says ASCA. Additionally, reporting the use of a safe surgery checklist will be an annual requirement in Medicare's quality reporting program in the future.
"Although an ASC will not face financial penalties if the report it files in 2013 indicates that it did not use this checklist in 2012, CMS intends to make these reports public," says ASCA Executive Director William Prentice. "As an industry, we are proud of the exceptional patient care we provide and the outstanding patient outcomes ASCs report. Being able to report wide-scale use of safe surgery checklists will further strengthen our record of quality care."
ASCs that fail to meet the Medicare quality reporting requirements that start in 2012 will be subject to payment reductions in future years.
Dan O'Connor
