New York: Amend OBS Reporting Requirements
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) released a proposal that would require physicians who perform procedures in office-based surgery settings to adhere to additional reporting requirements. The proposal aimed to minimize adverse events, yet the measure goes beyond that in requiring physicians to report on all procedures performed in office-based settings. ASPS believes that more work should be done with appropriate data-sharing between the recognized accrediting agencies and state departments of health, especially due to the fact that many office-based surgical practices are not readily-equipped to handle reporting requirements through advanced electronic health record systems.
The New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons conducted numerous discussions with the DOH in advance of the proposal's release in hopes of enlightening the department on its impact. In a collaborative effort, the New York state aided ASPS and the New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYRSPS) in crafting additional responses to the proposal. The societies also sent a grassroots alert to members in the state asking them to sign on to a letter requesting changes to the proposal in order to protect office-based surgical practices.
Ultimately, a strong showing of 72 New York-based plastic surgeons signed on to the grassroots letter that was sent to the DOH, along with separate letters from ASPS, NYSSPS and NYRSPS. The comment period for the rule is now closed and the three societies are monitoring the New York Register for any updates and/or future opportunities to shape the final rule.