Ambulatory Surgery Center Industry Applauds New Measure Improving Patient Access to Colorectal Cancer Screenings
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) was signed into law by the President on March 23. Among its many provisions, the ASC industry applauds the inclusion of important policy to expand Americans’ access to preventive services, including colonoscopies, by waiving patients’ coinsurance payment. This new emphasis on preventive services coincides with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – the annual event raising awareness of the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
ASCs are an important provider of colorectal cancer screening procedures which play an integral role in early detection of the disease. In fact, ASCs perform over 40 percent of all Medicare colonoscopies in the US each year. The Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee (ASCAC) remains a committed partner in increasing prevention and detection of this disease, and the ASC industry looks forward to meeting the new demand for this service and continuing to improve patient health outcomes.
In support of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the ASCAC joined medical leaders from around the country in participating in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s State-of-the-Science Conference on Enhancing the Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening. The conference panel of experts reviewed the available scientific research to help answer key questions aimed at understanding current screening rates, barriers to screening, and the capacity of the healthcare system to offer screening.
Presenters applauded the increasing rates of colorectal cancer screening, up to almost 60 percent in 2008, but also acknowledged that there is still work to be done. Although colon cancer is a significant cause of death, screening for the disease remains underutilized by Americans.
To address this gap, panelists formulated a draft consensus statement issued by NIH on the last day of the conference. The statement addresses key questions and outlined recommendations to increase colorectal cancer screening rates throughout the country.
The ASCAC provided commentary on behalf of the ASC industry for inclusion in the consensus statement. Dr. Arnold Levy, a gastroenterologist and President and CEO of a 55-physician gastroenterology group in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that is affiliated with seven ASCs, served as a representative for the ASCAC and spoke to the panel about the important role ASCs play in colorectal care. (Dr. Levy’s statement can be read in its entirety below.)
During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year, ASCs provide convenient, high-quality care with a goal of preventing and detecting colorectal cancer. Visit www.advancingsurgicalcare.com for more information about ASCs in your community.
Statement from Dr. Levy
Good morning. I am Dr. Arnold Levy. I am a private practice gastroenterologist and President and CEO of a 55-physician gastroenterology group here in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Our group is affiliated with 7 ambulatory surgery centers, 6 of which are operated in partnership with AmSurg, a nationwide operator of ASCs. In 2009, our group performed over 34,000 colonoscopies, 30,000 of which were performed in our affiliated ASCs. I offer the following statement on behalf of AmSurg and the Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee, a group of ASC operators, state associations and the ASC Association.
The ASC Advocacy Committee was pleased to hear in Dr. Seeff’s presentation yesterday that the CDC has included ASCs in their information gathering and survey reporting. When focusing on the medical community’s capacity for CRC screening, ASCs play a pivotal role in our country’s health system and have the capacity to aid in CRC prevention and screening. In fact, ASCs are already leaders in providing colorectal care, with more than 40 percent of Medicare colonoscopy services performed in the ASC setting.
There are approximately 5,200 ASCs nationwide, offering patients seeking these services easy access and convenience within their community. Each facility is staffed with a team of specialized medical professionals providing high-quality care. Patients report a 92 percent satisfaction rate in the health care services they receive in the ASC setting.
As detailed in the recent Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, colorectal cancer death rates have been declining since 1984 in men and since 1975 in women, with a more marked decline in recent years. The significant decline in colorectal cancer deaths can be attributed in part to increases in colorectal cancer screening, which plays a pivotal role in early diagnosis and ultimately an overall reduction in disease mortality. We are proud to be part of the solution to improve patient access to CRC screening services. The expansion of the ASC industry has been an integral part of meeting and exceeding the Healthy People 2010 objectives for screening colonoscopies. ASCs are committed to achieving the 50 percent reduction in colorectal cancer death rates highlighted in the report and we look forward to working with key stakeholders to achieve this goal.
ASCs are often the most cost effective solution for both patients and insurance payers, and offer enormous savings to the taxpayers of this country and the entire health care system. Research shows that patients experience roughly a 59 percent co-pay savings, and overall, ASCs save Medicare approximately $2 billion annually.
As perhaps the most efficient setting for care, we urge the Committee to recognize the capacity that ASCs have for delivering appropriate colorectal cancer screenings for people throughout the U.S. The ASC community looks forward to working with NIH in continuing the fight against colorectal cancer.
