ASHA Says Patients Win as Congress Strikes Down Anti-Specialty Hospital Language

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The American Surgical Hospital Association (ASHA) says it is pleased to announce that over the weekend, House-Senate budget reconciliation conferees rejected Sen. Charles Grassley's (R-IA) language that banned new physician-owned specialty hospitals and severely restricted the growth of existing hospitals. ASHA explains that for years, specialty hospitals have been unjustly scrutinized by the traditional hospital community, adding that the rejection of the Grassley language essentially allows the industry to continue to offer American healthcare consumers a choice in obtaining high-quality, specialized healthcare.

“This is a huge victory for the specialty hospital industry and is the culmination of years of hard work by ASHA members. Our sincere thanks to all parties involved,” said James Grant, president of ASHA and COO of National Surgical Hospitals. “ASHA would especially like to thank the members of Congress who supported us, especially Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), Tom DeLay (R-TX), Bill Thomas (R-CA), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).”

In rejecting the Senate position, the conferees agreed to assign the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) the tasks of evaluating several issues that have arisen in the debate over specialty hospitals and taking action to address them. This agreement is an expansion of an effort already initiated by CMS Administrator Mark McClellan. The expectation is that CMS will implement any required action, or seek additional legislative authority within the first six months of 2006. ASHA plans to work closely with CMS and its Congressional allies to ensure that existing facilities are allowed to continue to provide care without disruption, and to support those facilities that are under construction or looking at development.

ASHA was formed to foster a common model of acute-care surgical hospitals in the United States. ASHA represents the collective interests and views of the industry, seeks to improve and maintain standards of excellence in high-quality surgical healthcare and fosters the growth and development of the industry. ASHA’s membership currently consists of over 75 specialty hospital facilities in 22 states specializing in a wide variety of medical procedures.  ASHA’s mission is to promote the advancement of the surgical hospital industry through education and advocacy. 

Source: ASHA