Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Supports the "Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act"
ALEXANDRIA, VA (NOVEMBER 8, 2010) – The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) strongly supports legislation sponsored by US Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) and US Representative Daniel E. Lungren (R-CA) (S. 3578 and H.R. 5141) that would eliminate a health care reform law mandate that all businesses must file Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1099 forms for all payments in excess of $600 for services and merchandise. The ASCA strongly believes elimination of this requirement will protect more than 5,200 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) across the country from an unreasonable paperwork burden that could cost each facility thousands of dollars a year.
Many ASCs are small businesses focused solely on the health and well-being of their patients, and with fewer than 20 employees, most do not have the staff to adhere to the new IRS filing requirement. For ASCs to continue to be a cost-saving option for surgical and preventive care, ASCs cannot add on unnecessary administrative costs. ASCs all over the country would be affected by the reporting requirement if it is implemented.
“ASCs offer low costs and superior quality for surgical and preventive care, yet as small businesses they do not have adequate resources to adhere to the health care reform law’s new mandate,” said David Shapiro MD, Chair of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. “We encourage the House and Senate to pass the ‘Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act.’ This bill would keep ASCs’ administrative costs at current levels, which is especially important in light of current economic conditions and the nominal update Medicare provided for ASCs in 2011.”
With their highly trained and specialized medical staff, ASCs offer a low cost and superior quality option for surgical and preventive care. ASCs save Medicare $2 billion annually.
The ASC Association (ASCA) and Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee (ASCAC) are working to raise awareness of the important role that ASCs play in the US health care system and the high-quality, cost-effective care that ASCs provide. For more about ASCs, the ASCA and the ASCAC, visit www.ascassociation.org and www.advancingsurgicalcare.com.
Media Contact
Kay Tucker, ASCA
703-836-8808
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