Certificate of Need (CON) regulations are in place for ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) in about 20 states. For most physicians, these regulations stop them from forming their own ASC due to the high cost and complexity of coming into compliance. We want to ask: are CON regulations protecting hospitals from lower-cost competitors (ASCs) and, in the process, contributing to higher health care costs?
Unlocking Opportunities for Physicians: Office-Based Procedures as a Solution to High Healthcare Costs
Health insurance companies in some CON states have realized that CON is working to the advantage of hospitals and to the detriment of patients and employers who pay the bills. There are ways in which physicians can benefit from having the ability to set up their offices for office-based surgery or endoscopy procedures.
Common high-volume procedures such as colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, balloon sinuplasty procedures, epidural injections, etc. are well suited for office settings provided that the practice has space for the procedure room, recovery areas, and decontamination room (1,000-2,000sq ft). Additionally, the physicians and staff must be trained and equipped to provide sedation in their office setting, or they should bring in anesthesiologists or CRNA’s.