ASPS is Disappointed With Connecticut’s Likely Ambulatory Surgical Center Tax

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced today its disappointment with the proposed 6 percent tax on services received at ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). What appears to be a last minute state budgetary "solution" will have significant effects on Connecticut's ability to provide health care access to its population.

"What people don't understand is that with each tax put on a healthcare provider, there is an inevitable domino effect that negatively impacts the population served by that provider," explained Scot Glasberg, MD, ASPS president. "In the case of ambulatory surgical centers, this tax could impact everyone through both the initial expense, as well as the long-term consequences, which we believe will include some of these facilities going out of business."

ASCs offer a cost-effective alternative to hospital-based surgery and are an important out-patient care option for the general population. However, with the increase in taxes for services rendered at these centers, the ability of ASCs to remain viable for the community will be jeopardized, drastically minimizing patient access to affordable health care.

"It's incredibly disappointing to see a government impose another health care tax that so directly affects the people it serves under the guise of fiscal responsibility," said Dr. Glasberg. "Unfortunately, witnessing such irresponsibility on the part of legislators has become all too commonplace, as they scramble to find additional ways of increasing the state's revenue."

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is expected to sign the budget before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.