ASC Podcast with John Goehle

In this episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle, a mandatory CMS specialty payment model starting in January puts quality and cost scores on the line for the specialties ASCs live on, and a proposed $5.7 billion deal would put a health system behind one of the big ASC management companies. Then John sits down with Daren Smith of Surgical Information Systems on building a QAPI program around outcomes instead of boxes — and the difference between a QI activity and a real QI study. This episode is sponsored by Surgical Information Systems, RFX Solutions, Medserve and Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies. Notes and Resources from this Episode: ‘Consolidation of Consolidators’: Unpacking the $5.7B Bon Secours-Surgery Partners Deal — Ambulatory Surgery Center News (October 27, 2026): ascnews.com HealthSpan Partners to Acquire Surgery Partners (proposed; expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals) — Surgery Partners press release, SEC Form 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (October 26, 2026): sec.gov CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) — mandatory specialty payment model; performance years 2027–2031, payment adjustments 2029–2033 (heart failure & low back pain, two-sided risk) — CMS: cms.gov | ASM FAQs | ASM Model Fact Sheet ANNOUNCEMENT - Live Conference Week recordings now available for individual purchase - Premium Access members get all four free: asc-central.com - Conferences & Programs Infection Control Oversight 101 (IC101): asc-central.com/ic101-2026 Infection Control Coordinator Training (IC 201): asc-central.com/ic201-2026 Quality Improvement & Peer Review (QAPI): asc-central.com/qapi-2026 Article 28 Mastery, New York D&TC and ASC: asc-central.com/article-28-2026 INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASC PODCAST WITH JOHN GOEHLE ASC Central is our one-stop site for ASC bootcamps, live and on-demand conferences, and membership programs — now at asc-central.com (the old conferences.asc-central.com address has been retired). Patron Membership — $25/month, individual: the full resource library (policies, forms, drill kits, templates), weekly drop-in Zoom sessions, all six recorded conferences, the member forum, the complete podcast library, and The Survey Guide for ASCs, 2026 Edition with Appendices A–N. Become a Patron Member Premium Access — $3,995/year, covering your entire surgery center (not per person): everything in Patron, plus the Administrator, Director of Nursing and Business Office Manager Bootcamps, the ASC Leadership Mastery Course, Infection Control 101 & 201 (CAIP preparation), Annual Mandatory Education, compliance tools and self-assessments, certificates with AEUs and IPCH credits, every new conference we release, and up to five hours of private consulting a year. Sign up for Premium Access Compare both programs: asc-central.com/memberships Important Resources for ASCs: Conditions for Coverage: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-416 Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107_exhibit_351.pdf Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/updated-guidance-ambulatory-surgical-centers-appendix-l-state-operations-manual-som Policy & Memos to States and Regions CMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle: Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John’s most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers

In this episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle, we look at a new CDC report on unannounced infectious-disease drills, an urgent recall of convenience kits containing BD ChloraPrep applicators, the October update to the ASC payment system, and a new coalition that wants surgery centers involved in employer direct contracting. Then we take a deep dive into the Emergency Preparedness Condition for Coverage.   This episode is sponsored by Surgical Information Systems, RFX Solutions, Medserve and Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies.   Notes and Resources from this Episode:   Unannounced Drills Using Patient Actors to Evaluate Health Care Facility Readiness for Infectious Disease Outbreaks, January–June 2026 — CDC MMWR (October 1, 2026): cdc.gov   Convenience Kit Recall: Medline Removes Convenience Kits Affected by BD ChloraPrep Applicator Recall (Class I) — FDA (October 13, 2026): fda.gov   Convenience Kit Recall: AVID Medical Removes Convenience Kits Affected by BD ChloraPrep Applicator Recall (Class I) — FDA (October 14, 2026): fda.gov   Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System: October 2026 Update — CMS MLN Matters MM14634, Change Request 14634, Transmittal R13983CP (released October 8, 2026; effective October 1, 2026): cms.gov — MM14634 | Transmittal R13983CP   New Direct-Contracting Coalition Looks to Recruit ASCs for its Cause — Ambulatory Surgery Center News (October 22, 2026): ascnews.com | Coalition launch coverage — Fierce Healthcare (September 25, 2026): fiercehealthcare.com   Focus-segment source — Condition for Coverage, Emergency Preparedness, 42 CFR 416.54 (eCFR): ecfr.gov — 42 CFR 416.54   ASC Quality Collaboration — nine free ASC Toolkits (endoscope reprocessing, environmental infection prevention, hand hygiene, point-of-care devices, prevention of patient falls, safe injection practices, single-use device reprocessing, sterilization and high-level disinfection, and wrong-site prevention), for internal improvement and education use: ascquality.org/toolkits   ANNOUNCEMENT - Live Conference Week recordings now available for individual purchase - Premium Access members get all four free: asc-central.com - Conferences & Programs   Infection Control Oversight 101 (IC101): asc-central.com/ic101-2026 Infection Control Coordinator Training (IC 201): asc-central.com/ic201-2026 Quality Improvement & Peer Review (QAPI): asc-central.com/qapi-2026 Article 28 Mastery, New York D&TC and ASC: asc-central.com/article-28-2026   INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASC PODCAST WITH JOHN GOEHLE   ASC Central is our one-stop site for ASC bootcamps, live and on-demand conferences, and membership programs — now at asc-central.com (the old conferences.asc-central.com address has been retired).   Patron Membership — $25/month, individual: the full resource library (policies, forms, drill kits, templates), weekly drop-in Zoom sessions, all six recorded conferences, the member forum, the complete podcast library, and The Survey Guide for ASCs, 2026 Edition with Appendices A–N. Become a Patron Member   Premium Access — $3,995/year, covering your entire surgery center (not per person): everything in Patron, plus the Administrator, Director of Nursing and Business Office Manager Bootcamps, the ASC Leadership Mastery Course, Infection Control 101 & 201 (CAIP preparation), Annual Mandatory Education, compliance tools and self-assessments, certificates with AEUs and IPCH credits, every new conference we release, and up to five hours of private consulting a year. Sign up for Premium Access   Compare both programs: asc-central.com/memberships/   Important Resources for ASCs:   Conditions for Coverage: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=42:3.0.1.1.3&idno=42#se42.3.416_150   Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107_exhibit_351.pdf   Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/updated-guidance-ambulatory-surgical-centers-appendix-l-state-operations-manual-som   Policy & Memos to States and Regions CMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions   Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle:   Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John’s most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers

In this special episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle, recorded at the Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association's Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in Wilsonville, Oregon, John talks with the president of ASCA's board, a vendor who serves on the conference committee, a director of nursing attending her second meeting, and the association's executive director. Then John and Sue go over a few of the accreditation readiness questions from John's own session. This episode is sponsored by Surgical Information Systems, RFX Solutions, Medserve and Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies. Notes and Resources from this Episode: Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (OASCA) Website: ascoregon.org 2026 Annual Education Conference and Trade Show — October 15–16, 2026, Holiday Inn & Conference Center, Wilsonville, Oregon Interviewed at the Conference: Todd Currier — CEO and Administrator, Bend Surgery Center, Bend, Oregon; President, ASCA Board of Directors; Secretary, Oregon association board Denay Love — Service Point (commercial janitorial services); Oregon association planning and events committee Jeanine Mudd, RN — Director of Nursing, Spine Surgery Center, Eugene, Oregon Simon Schwartz — Executive Director, Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association John's session at the conference: "Advancing Accreditation Readiness: 2026 Findings" — Thursday, October 15, 2026 Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) — membership, benchmarking and advocacy: ascassociation.org 2026 Multi-State Conference — December 3–4, 2026, virtual, presented with the state ASC associations: asc-central.com/2026-multi-state-conference ANNOUNCEMENT - Live Conference Week recordings now available for individual purchase - Premium Access members get all four free: asc-central.com - Conferences & Programs Infection Control Oversight 101 (IC101): asc-central.com/ic101-2026 Infection Control Coordinator Training (IC 201): asc-central.com/ic201-2026 Quality Improvement & Peer Review (QAPI): asc-central.com/qapi-2026 Article 28 Mastery, New York D&TC and ASC: asc-central.com/article-28-2026 INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASC PODCAST WITH JOHN GOEHLE ASC Central is our one-stop site for ASC bootcamps, live and on-demand conferences, and membership programs — now at asc-central.com (the old conferences.asc-central.com address has been retired). Patron Membership — $25/month, individual: the full resource library (policies, forms, drill kits, templates), weekly drop-in Zoom sessions, all six recorded conferences, the member forum, the complete podcast library, and The Survey Guide for ASCs, 2026 Edition with Appendices A–N. Become a Patron Member Premium Access — $3,995/year, covering your entire surgery center (not per person): everything in Patron, plus the Administrator, Director of Nursing and Business Office Manager Bootcamps, the ASC Leadership Mastery Course, Infection Control 101 & 201 (CAIP preparation), Annual Mandatory Education, compliance tools and self-assessments, certificates with AEUs and IPCH credits, every new conference we release, and up to five hours of private consulting a year. Sign up for Premium Access Compare both programs: asc-central.com/memberships Important Resources for ASCs: Conditions for Coverage Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control) Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix L PDF Updated Guidance Policy & Memos to States and Regions CMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. CMS Policy & Memos to States and Regions Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle: Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John’s most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers

In this episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle, we cover a whistleblower verdict against an Optum-affiliated ASC, the $6 billion wave of ASC M&A activity, new scrutiny of nonprofit ASC profitability, the health systems racing into the ASC space, and what Joint Commission surveyors say ASCs should expect. Then John sits down with Kara Newbury, ASCA's Chief Advocacy Officer, recorded at the CASA Annual Conference in Monterey, California, for a conversation on where the ASC industry stands in Washington heading into 2027. This episode is sponsored by Surgical Information Systems, RFX Solutions, Medserve and  Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies. Notes and Resources from this Episode: Anesthesiologist wins $1.6M whistleblower verdict against Optum-affiliated ASC — Becker's ASC (September 23, 2026): beckersasc.com The $6B ASC buying spree — Becker's ASC (September 22, 2026): beckersasc.com Ambulatory Surgery Centers Show ‘Remarkably High Profitability’ — Ambulatory Surgery Center News (September 28, 2026), citing Plummer, Doyle and Bai, JAMA Health Forum: ascnews.com 8 health systems edging ahead in the ASC race — Becker's ASC (August 25, 2026): beckersasc.com Joint Commission Surveyors Offer ‘Sneak Peek’ of What ASCs Can Expect — Ambulatory Surgery Center News (October 8, 2026): ascnews.com ANNOUNCEMENT — Live Conference Week recordings (Infection Control 101, QAPI, Article 28 Mastery) are now available for individual purchase; IC Coordinator 201 is coming shortly — Premium Access members get all four free: asc-central.com 2026 Multi-State Virtual ASC Conference — December 3–4, 2026, free to members of participating state associations: asc-central.com/2026-multi-state-conference The Survey Guide — John Goehle's book on the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for ASCs: lulu.com The new ASC Central website: asc-central.com INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASC PODCAST WITH JOHN GOEHLE ASC Central is our one-stop site for ASC bootcamps, live and on-demand conferences, and membership programs — now at asc-central.com (the old conferences.asc-central.com address has been retired). Patron Member Program — $25/month for an individual listener who wants a richer podcast experience and wants to support the show: the resource library, weekly drop-in Zoom sessions, six recorded conferences, the member forum, the podcast library, and the electronic Survey Guide for ASCs, 2026 Edition with Appendices A–N. Become a Patron Member Premium Access Program — $3,995/year for the entire surgery center: education, compliance resources and staff training for ASC leaders and owners who need more support without engaging a full management or outsourced-services company. It includes the three leadership bootcamps, ASC Leadership Mastery, Infection Control 101 & 201, Annual Mandatory Education, compliance tools and self-assessments, the conference library, applicable certificates, and up to five hours of private consulting a year. Sign up for Premium Access Membership program details: https://asc-central.com/memberships/  |  Live Conference Week recordings: https://asc-central.com/educational-programs/   Important Resources for ASCs: Conditions for Coverage: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=42:3.0.1.1.3&idno=42#se42.3.416_150 Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107_exhibit_351.pdf Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/updated-guidance-ambulatory-surgical-centers-appendix-l-state-operations-manual-som Policy & Memos to States and Regions CMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle: Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John’s most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers

In this special episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle, recorded at the California Ambulatory Surgery Association's Annual Conference, held September 1st through 4th at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California, John talks to some of the speakers, and the board president. Then he walks through four sessions from the meeting — electronic distraction in the OR, emergency management and life safety, accreditation readiness, and a panel of the accrediting organizations on what they want you to know. This episode is sponsored by Surgical Information Systems, RFX Solutions, Medserve and  Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies. Notes and Resources from this Episode: California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA) Website: casurgery.org Annual Conference 2026 — September 1–4, 2026, Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, California   Speakers Interviewed from the Conference: Michelle George — general session: “Fueling Excellence: Elevate. Execute. Excel” Carrie Millsap — President, California Ambulatory Surgery Association; Chief Executive Officer, Monterey Peninsula Surgery Centers Kara Newbury, JD — Chief Advocacy Officer, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (session: “CA and National Legislative Update”) David Shapiro, MD — anesthesiologist, ASC surveyor and longtime industry leader (also presented “Position Your ASC for Accreditation Success”) 2026 Multi-State Conference — presented with the state ASC associations: asc-central.com/2026-multi-state-conference Sessions Recapped in This Episode: Peter Papadakos, MD — “Optimizing Team Performance: Managing Digital Distractions in the OR” Richard Parker — “Emergency Management, Physical Environment, and Life Safety in ASCs” David Shapiro, MD — “Position Your ASC for Accreditation Success” “Checkered Flag Finish: What the Experts Want You to Know” — panel of accrediting organization representatives (AAAHC, The Joint Commission, QUAD A, DNV and ACHC), moderated by Janet Miller ASC Quality Collaboration — nine free ASC Toolkits (endoscope reprocessing, environmental infection prevention, hand hygiene, point-of-care devices, patient falls, safe injection practices, single-use device reprocessing, sterilization and high-level disinfection, and wrong-site prevention): ascquality.org/toolkits CASA upcoming events: Infection Prevention Conference — November 2026, virtual [VALIDATE dates]; CASA Annual Conference 2027 — Huntington Beach, California [VALIDATE dates] ANNOUNCEMENT - Live Conference Week, September 22-25, 2026 - Premium Access and AHS Client Access members attend free: asc-central.com - Conferences & Programs Tuesday, September 22 - Infection Control Oversight 101 (IC101): asc-central.com/ic101-2026 Wednesday, September 23 - Infection Control Coordinator Training (IC 201): asc-central.com/ic201-2026 Thursday, September 24 - Quality Improvement & Peer Review (QAPI): asc-central.com/qapi-2026 Friday, September 25 - Article 28 Mastery, New York D&TC and ASC: asc-central.com/article-28-2026 INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASC PODCAST WITH JOHN GOEHLE ASC Central is our one-stop site for ASC bootcamps, live and on-demand conferences, and membership programs — now at asc-central.com (the old conferences.asc-central.com address has been retired). Patron Membership — $25/month, individual: the full resource library (policies, forms, drill kits, templates), weekly drop-in Zoom sessions, all six recorded conferences, the member forum, the complete podcast library, and The Survey Guide for ASCs, 2026 Edition with Appendices A–N. Become a Patron Member Premium Access — $3,995/year, covering your entire surgery center (not per person): everything in Patron, plus the Administrator, Director of Nursing and Business Office Manager Bootcamps, the ASC Leadership Mastery Course, Infection Control 101 & 201 (CAIP preparation), Annual Mandatory Education, compliance tools and self-assessments, certificates with AEUs and IPCH credits, every new conference we release, and up to five hours of private consulting a year. Sign up for Premium Access Compare both programs: asc-central.com/memberships   Important Resources for ASCs: Conditions for Coverage: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=42:3.0.1.1.3&idno=42#se42.3.416_150 Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107_exhibit_351.pdf Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM) https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/updated-guidance-ambulatory-surgical-centers-appendix-l-state-operations-manual-som Policy & Memos to States and Regions CMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle: Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John’s most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers