April 6, 2020
On March 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced temporary measures that will allow ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) no longer doing elective and non-essential procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak to help alleviate hospitals’ current capacity and resource strains. CMS will temporarily permit an ASC to contract with a local healthcare system to provide hospital services, or enroll and bill as a hospital during the federal government’s emergency declaration. The following summary outlines CMS’ guidelines and other considerations regarding this action.