Complete Story
08/08/2026
CASA Q2 Benchmarking Closes August 15 - Is Your Data In?
CMS Proposed Rule Updates: Comments Due August 31, 2026
CASA Benchmarking: Data Entry is Closing This Saturday
The 2nd quarter data entry (April 1-June 30) for CASA Benchmarking is now open and will close August 15, 2026.
Patients, payors, accrediting agencies, and regulators all value transparent, high-quality ASC outcome data. CASA’s Benchmarking Program gives you the tools to compare your results, identify opportunities for improvement, and highlight your center’s commitment to excellence. The more members who participate, the stronger and more impactful our statewide data becomes.
If you are new to the program or would like a refresher, CASA has created a tutorial webinar and several data collection tools to make reporting easy. You can access these resources anytime at CASA Benchmarking Resources.
National Q1 Rates on Metrics
CMS Proposed Rule
CMS Proposed Rule Updates: Comments Due August 31, 2026
July 2: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2027 proposed payment rule for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). Of note, CMS proposed to vastly expand the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL) for 2027. In addition, CMS concurred with ASCA’s request and proposed to continue to align the ASC update factor with the one used to update HOPD payments, extending the interim period an additional calendar year through 2027.
Other initial observations about the 723-page rule follow. ASCA will provide additional analysis soon, including a rate calculator that allows users to determine what ASCs will be paid locally if the proposal is adopted.
2.4% Average Rate Update: If the proposed rule is finalized as drafted, ASCs would see, on average over all covered procedures, an effective update of 2.4%, which is a combination of a 3.2% inflation update based on the hospital market basket and a productivity reduction mandated by the Affordable Care Act of 0.8 percentage points. This is an average, and the updates might vary significantly by code and specialty.
For 2027, all of the top 10 codes by volume are projected to see a decrease in reimbursement from 2026 rates. The table below shows the current reimbursement rates, the 2027 proposed rates found in the ASC addenda, and the delta between those rates for the top 10 ASC codes by volume.
Significant Changes to the ASC Covered Procedures List:
CMS plans to widely expand the ASC-CPL in 2027, proposing 618 codes for addition. Many of these codes are procedures also proposed for removal from the inpatient-only (IPO) list for 2027. CMS proposes removing a total of 637 procedures from the IPO list in 2027, continuing its transition to phase out the IPO list entirely.
Changes to the ASC Quality Reporting Program:
Regarding the ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, CMS proposed to remove ASC-9: Endoscopy/Polyp Surveillance: Appropriate Follow-Up Interval for Normal Colonoscopy in Average Risk Patients. CMS did not propose to add any new measures to the ASCQR Program.
Comments are due August 31, 2026.
August 26, 2026 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Board Minutes Best Practices: Protecting Your ASC Through Effective Documentation
Speakers: Beverly Kirchner, RN, MSN
1 Hour CEU/AEU: Regulatory and Legal Issues
Board minutes are one of the most important — and most overlooked — tools in an ASC administrator's arsenal. Done well, they protect your facility, demonstrate strong governance, and keep you survey-ready all year long. Accreditation bodies and regulators expect your board minutes to tell a clear story of oversight and accountability - and there is a long list of required annual board approvals your ASC must document to stay compliant. This practical session gives administrators exactly what they need: a roadmap that equips administrators with the tools to document board meetings that demonstrate an informed, actively engaged board - one that takes its oversight role seriously and drives the compliance and quality your ASC depends on.
