ASC Association
Encyclopedia
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association is a nonprofit association in the United States. It represents all aspects of the Ambulatory Surgery Center industry including the physicians, nurses, administrative staff and owners.
The association represents the industry before the media, Congress
, state legislatures and regulatory bodies, and advocates for quality standards, insurance
coverage by Medicare
and private payers, and reasonable conditions for coverage.
and the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (AAASC) — merged. The new organization commenced operations January 1, 2008.
facilities where surgery
that does not require hospital
admission are performed. The specific type and range of surgery performed by a particular facility varies.
Patients who elect to have surgery in these type of facilities do so without being admitted to a hospital. They arrive on the day of the procedure, have the surgery in an operating room, and recover under the care of the nursing staff.
The association represents the industry before the media, Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, state legislatures and regulatory bodies, and advocates for quality standards, insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
coverage by Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
and private payers, and reasonable conditions for coverage.
History
The ASC Association was formed in 2008 when the two leading national ASC associations — FASAFederated Ambulatory Surgery Association
The Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association was a nonprofit association representing the interests of ambulatory surgery centers throughout the United States...
and the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (AAASC) — merged. The new organization commenced operations January 1, 2008.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Ambulatory Surgery Centers are medicalMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
facilities where surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
that does not require hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
admission are performed. The specific type and range of surgery performed by a particular facility varies.
Patients who elect to have surgery in these type of facilities do so without being admitted to a hospital. They arrive on the day of the procedure, have the surgery in an operating room, and recover under the care of the nursing staff.