A New York state law regulating office-based surgery has physicians rushing to upgrade their offices or find new space altogether. The Patient Protection Bill and signed into law in July 2007, is intended to ensure high safety standards in offices when surgery and other invasive procedures are conducted with more than minimal sedation.
According to the New York Times, it is the first time that New York state will regulate office-based surgeries. Doctors doing surgery will be required to have their offices accredited by one of three existing agencies by July 14, or face penalties for professional misconduct if they continue to perform operations.