MNASCA Member Forums

MNASCA hosts several online Member Forums throughout the year, each designed to keep members informed on the latest legislative and regulatory developments. These interactive sessions feature expert guest speakers who share timely insights and respond to member questions.

Note: We invite you to register for these FREE updates, so we can more easily follow up with you to share information and materials post-event.

Check back in January 2026 for details about our next Member Forum.

PREVIOUS MEMBER FORUMS

Medicare’s 2026 ASC Payment Rule – What You Need to Know
December 5, 2025

MNASCA welcomed Kara Newbury, Chief Advocacy Officer for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), for our final member forum of the year. Newbury provided a clear and timely overview of the newly released CMS 2026 Final Payment Rule and its implications for ASCs in 2026.

Released on November 21, the 1,657-page rule outlines the Medicare inflation update for ASC payments, expands the list of procedures approved for ASC settings, and introduces significant revisions to the ASC Quality Reporting Program, among other policy changes. Newbury explained how these updates may affect ASC reimbursement, operations, and regulatory compliance in the coming year.

Resources:

• Session slides
• Session summary
• ASCA Medicare Rate Calculator
• Codes being added to the covered procedures list
• CMS publicly reported ASC data
• Quality Reporting Center Facility Compare Dashboard

MNASCA Member Forum Recap: Dialogue with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
October 24, 2025

The Minnesota Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (MNASCA) hosted an October Member Forum featuring Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBS). The session provided an open dialogue on payment methodology updates, operational challenges, and ongoing collaboration to improve claims processing and communication with ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the state. BCBS was represented by Luke Speltz, Director of Provider Relations and Finance; Tony Leonard, Principal Healthcare Analyst; and Rami Asfour, Senior Data Analyst.

Resources:

• Session slides
• Session summary