Objective:

To evaluate the implications of CMS's health equity measures on ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), focusing on their ability to screen for social drivers of health (SDOH) and the broader impact on patient care.

Key Findings:

• ASCs lack the staffing and technology to effectively collect and act on SDOH data, raising ethical concerns about patient care.
• The ASCQR program may duplicate efforts already undertaken by primary care providers, leading to inefficiencies.
• There are ethical concerns regarding the handling of sensitive patient information in a surgical setting, particularly when ASCs may not have the infrastructure to support necessary actions.

Interpretation:

The implementation of health equity measures in ASCs may not be feasible without adequate resources, potentially leading to ethical dilemmas regarding patient care and the handling of sensitive information.

Limitations:

• ASCs may choose to incur a financial penalty rather than comply with the program due to resource constraints, such as limited staff and technology.
• The program does not provide compensation for the additional resources required to meet its objectives, which could hinder compliance.

Conclusion:

There is a call for the delay or revision of health equity measures until they are tested in the ASC environment, with specific recommendations for practical and effective implementation.