1
00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:02,899
At athenahealth,

2
00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,480
we know your ambulatory practice wants healthier, a

3
00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,779
healthier business, healthier care teams, and healthier patients.

4
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,480
But the complexities of modern health care tech

5
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,240
make it hard for you and your care

6
00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:15,855
teams to focus on what matters

7
00:00:16,414 --> 00:00:19,295
most? That's where athenahealth can help. Our AI

8
00:00:19,295 --> 00:00:22,594
native all in one solutions reduce administrative burdens,

9
00:00:22,974 --> 00:00:25,875
streamline billing and payments, and deliver critical insights

10
00:00:25,934 --> 00:00:28,734
when clinicians need it most. That means fewer

11
00:00:28,734 --> 00:00:31,614
clicks, more time for patients, and stronger bottom

12
00:00:31,614 --> 00:00:31,829
lines.

13
00:00:32,789 --> 00:00:35,989
Practicing medicine is complex, but running a practice

14
00:00:35,989 --> 00:00:37,850
can be that much simpler with athenahealth.

15
00:00:38,549 --> 00:00:42,250
See how simpler is healthier@athenahealth.com.

16
00:00:43,829 --> 00:00:46,469
Hello. This is Francesca Matthews with the Becker's

17
00:00:46,469 --> 00:00:47,689
ASC review podcast.

18
00:00:48,195 --> 00:00:49,795
I'm thrilled to be joined today by Adam

19
00:00:49,795 --> 00:00:50,295
Hornback,

20
00:00:50,674 --> 00:00:54,034
chief operating officer of IncaVent Health, administrator of

21
00:00:54,034 --> 00:00:56,515
North Texas Team Care Surgery Center. Adam, thank

22
00:00:56,515 --> 00:00:58,434
you so much for being here today. Thank

23
00:00:58,434 --> 00:00:59,655
you for having me.

24
00:01:00,450 --> 00:01:01,809
Just to get us started off, could you

25
00:01:01,809 --> 00:01:03,570
please introduce yourself and tell us a little

26
00:01:03,570 --> 00:01:04,549
bit about your background?

27
00:01:05,250 --> 00:01:07,890
Yeah. Absolutely. So I'm, my name is Adam

28
00:01:07,890 --> 00:01:09,590
Hornback. I am a nurse,

29
00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:10,629
by trade.

30
00:01:11,489 --> 00:01:14,594
I am currently the COO of Hinkopin Health,

31
00:01:15,234 --> 00:01:18,275
administrator or of North Texas Team Care Surgery

32
00:01:18,275 --> 00:01:21,015
Center in Dallas. I'm also the current president

33
00:01:21,075 --> 00:01:24,034
of the Texas ASC Society here in Texas

34
00:01:24,034 --> 00:01:26,355
where we advocate on behalf of the ASC

35
00:01:26,355 --> 00:01:26,855
industry.

36
00:01:27,849 --> 00:01:30,250
My surgery center is a multi specialty physician

37
00:01:30,250 --> 00:01:31,310
owned center.

38
00:01:32,250 --> 00:01:34,170
And then Hinckman Health is a company that

39
00:01:34,170 --> 00:01:34,650
provides,

40
00:01:35,130 --> 00:01:37,150
cash bundles for patients and employees,

41
00:01:37,609 --> 00:01:39,290
that a lot of employers are going to

42
00:01:39,290 --> 00:01:40,270
because of the changes

43
00:01:41,295 --> 00:01:43,555
in and rising health care costs.

44
00:01:44,254 --> 00:01:44,754
Mhmm.

45
00:01:45,135 --> 00:01:45,875
Mhmm. Great.

46
00:01:46,495 --> 00:01:48,575
Well, yeah, excited to to get into our

47
00:01:48,575 --> 00:01:51,135
discussion today. Just to start us off, what

48
00:01:51,135 --> 00:01:53,534
are the top three trends that you're following

49
00:01:53,534 --> 00:01:55,555
in health care and in ASCs today?

50
00:01:56,219 --> 00:01:56,960
Yeah. Absolutely.

51
00:01:57,420 --> 00:01:59,040
I think the first and most important,

52
00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:01,980
is the rising cost of health care. You

53
00:02:01,980 --> 00:02:04,540
know, with Hinkapin Health and with my surgery

54
00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:06,620
center, we're helping to battle that by having

55
00:02:06,620 --> 00:02:07,760
transparent pricing,

56
00:02:08,754 --> 00:02:11,155
for our clients and navigating our patients to

57
00:02:11,155 --> 00:02:13,414
cash friendly sites like surgery centers.

58
00:02:14,114 --> 00:02:16,834
The second would be the transition to more

59
00:02:16,834 --> 00:02:18,694
direct physician care models,

60
00:02:19,555 --> 00:02:20,775
subscription care,

61
00:02:21,155 --> 00:02:23,894
for primary care, that kind of thing.

62
00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,080
And then, the final trend I'm concerned about

63
00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,039
is the trend towards carriers denying or just

64
00:02:30,039 --> 00:02:31,739
taking the option off the table

65
00:02:32,039 --> 00:02:32,699
for anesthesia

66
00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,939
care in pain and GI.

67
00:02:35,879 --> 00:02:38,060
Mhmm. Absolutely. Those are all definitely

68
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:39,580
three very pertinent,

69
00:02:39,959 --> 00:02:41,215
trends trends that we talk about over here

70
00:02:41,215 --> 00:02:42,895
at Becker's, especially, you know, on the ASC

71
00:02:42,895 --> 00:02:44,735
side of things that that anesthesia piece has

72
00:02:44,735 --> 00:02:45,235
been,

73
00:02:45,935 --> 00:02:46,835
has been huge.

74
00:02:47,294 --> 00:02:49,775
What are you most excited about right now

75
00:02:49,775 --> 00:02:51,634
in ASCs and health care overall?

76
00:02:52,430 --> 00:02:54,349
Well, I'm very excited about the changes in

77
00:02:54,349 --> 00:02:56,830
health care moving, you know, towards a more

78
00:02:56,830 --> 00:02:58,689
employer based solution,

79
00:02:59,789 --> 00:03:03,169
which, you know, brings costs down for,

80
00:03:03,949 --> 00:03:05,169
employees, patients

81
00:03:05,629 --> 00:03:09,235
whenever we're doing a direct employer direct, model.

82
00:03:09,854 --> 00:03:13,074
The option to bypass large insurance carrier carriers,

83
00:03:14,094 --> 00:03:15,455
puts the care back in the hands of

84
00:03:15,455 --> 00:03:15,955
patients.

85
00:03:17,294 --> 00:03:17,794
Mhmm.

86
00:03:18,254 --> 00:03:18,754
Absolutely.

87
00:03:19,055 --> 00:03:21,455
And how are you thinking about growth at

88
00:03:21,455 --> 00:03:24,189
your your organizations over the next twelve months?

89
00:03:24,810 --> 00:03:26,409
I think the growth in the ASC industry

90
00:03:26,409 --> 00:03:27,849
is going to be increased in the next

91
00:03:27,849 --> 00:03:28,750
couple of years.

92
00:03:29,209 --> 00:03:31,449
I've heard rumors that we're getting rid of

93
00:03:31,449 --> 00:03:33,069
the hospital only list,

94
00:03:34,009 --> 00:03:35,834
you know, thereby opening up a bunch of

95
00:03:35,834 --> 00:03:37,995
new opportunities for ASCs to take care of

96
00:03:37,995 --> 00:03:38,735
our patients.

97
00:03:39,514 --> 00:03:40,814
I think the the

98
00:03:41,275 --> 00:03:43,674
the outlook for the ASCs is is is

99
00:03:43,674 --> 00:03:44,574
very good.

100
00:03:45,114 --> 00:03:46,814
I think everybody's a little,

101
00:03:47,275 --> 00:03:49,594
on edge about what insurance rates are going

102
00:03:49,594 --> 00:03:51,215
to look like and that kind of thing.

103
00:03:51,330 --> 00:03:53,969
So I think, having, you know, our prices

104
00:03:53,969 --> 00:03:54,469
transparent

105
00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:55,590
is a,

106
00:03:56,050 --> 00:03:56,870
is a very

107
00:03:57,169 --> 00:03:59,509
good cause to to look forward to.

108
00:04:00,449 --> 00:04:02,930
Mhmm. And kinda just a little bit of

109
00:04:02,930 --> 00:04:05,104
follow-up there, you know, with the the rumor

110
00:04:05,104 --> 00:04:07,025
that the inpatient only list may be going

111
00:04:07,025 --> 00:04:07,525
away,

112
00:04:07,824 --> 00:04:08,965
you know, kind of that

113
00:04:09,264 --> 00:04:11,504
that CMS shift to procedures has been a

114
00:04:11,504 --> 00:04:12,944
big part of what I've been talking with

115
00:04:12,944 --> 00:04:14,705
leaders about. You know, how are you kind

116
00:04:14,705 --> 00:04:16,785
of thinking about preparing for that? And,

117
00:04:17,264 --> 00:04:19,439
you know, obviously, nothing has totally happened yet,

118
00:04:19,439 --> 00:04:19,939
but,

119
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,160
yeah, how are you kind of keeping your

120
00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:23,520
eye on that, and in what ways are

121
00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,520
you preparing to be able to potentially do,

122
00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:26,900
you know, many more procedures?

123
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,199
Yeah. So the good thing about that is,

124
00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:29,699
obviously,

125
00:04:31,225 --> 00:04:33,944
opening up the hospital only procedural list is

126
00:04:33,944 --> 00:04:36,024
good in some ways, and, also, it could

127
00:04:36,024 --> 00:04:36,685
be negative

128
00:04:37,144 --> 00:04:38,685
in some ways to our industry.

129
00:04:38,985 --> 00:04:40,665
I think that we have to be have

130
00:04:40,665 --> 00:04:41,964
to be very smart

131
00:04:42,345 --> 00:04:44,665
about the procedures that we take on. We

132
00:04:44,665 --> 00:04:47,899
are, you know, obviously doing much better with

133
00:04:47,899 --> 00:04:51,419
the more acute procedures that we're doing, but

134
00:04:51,419 --> 00:04:53,439
we don't wanna get in over our skis.

135
00:04:53,819 --> 00:04:56,300
So we have been able to do some

136
00:04:56,300 --> 00:04:56,800
things,

137
00:04:57,100 --> 00:04:59,039
as a cash based surgery center

138
00:04:59,564 --> 00:05:01,245
that a lot of people aren't able to

139
00:05:01,245 --> 00:05:02,465
do. You know, we do,

140
00:05:03,645 --> 00:05:06,365
a colectomy here and there, you know, small

141
00:05:06,365 --> 00:05:08,365
ones with healthy patients and that kind of

142
00:05:08,365 --> 00:05:11,085
thing. But, we've kind of already started on

143
00:05:11,085 --> 00:05:12,225
that that journey.

144
00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,639
It's just making sure you know, it's always

145
00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:16,800
the same. It's the right patient, you know,

146
00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,500
right time, right you know,

147
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,879
do do all the right things for the

148
00:05:20,879 --> 00:05:22,959
patient's safety, and we'll be we'll be in

149
00:05:22,959 --> 00:05:23,620
good shape.

150
00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,074
Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. Focusing on that that element

151
00:05:27,074 --> 00:05:28,754
kind of will will, at some point, you

152
00:05:28,754 --> 00:05:31,014
know, embody the the change itself, it seems.

153
00:05:31,235 --> 00:05:33,475
Yeah. Absolutely. We we wanna take good care

154
00:05:33,475 --> 00:05:34,754
of the patients, but we need to do

155
00:05:34,754 --> 00:05:36,435
it the correct way, you know, which is,

156
00:05:36,435 --> 00:05:38,295
you know, patient safety above all.

157
00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:39,780
Mhmm. Absolutely.

158
00:05:40,879 --> 00:05:43,199
Is there anything else that we haven't touched

159
00:05:43,199 --> 00:05:44,879
on yet that you you think is pertinent

160
00:05:44,879 --> 00:05:45,699
to this conversation?

161
00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,560
No. I I appreciate you guys doing this.

162
00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:50,639
I think it's good for the ASC guys

163
00:05:50,639 --> 00:05:53,985
to, have a a an outlet out like

164
00:05:53,985 --> 00:05:56,564
this. So we appreciate you guys doing this.

165
00:05:57,024 --> 00:05:58,004
Yeah. Of course.

166
00:05:58,865 --> 00:06:00,384
You know, but there's nothing else we wanted

167
00:06:00,384 --> 00:06:02,305
to add here. That's actually, all I have

168
00:06:02,305 --> 00:06:04,064
for you today, Adam. Thank you so much

169
00:06:04,064 --> 00:06:06,145
for joining us today. Thank you for having

170
00:06:06,145 --> 00:06:06,645
me.

171
00:06:07,149 --> 00:06:08,829
Absolutely. It's been a pleasure speaking with you,

172
00:06:08,829 --> 00:06:10,189
and I look forward to connecting with you

173
00:06:10,189 --> 00:06:11,089
again in the future.

174
00:06:11,470 --> 00:06:12,769
Okay. Great. Thank you.

175
00:06:14,829 --> 00:06:17,790
At athena Health, we know your ambulatory practice

176
00:06:17,790 --> 00:06:18,689
wants healthier,

177
00:06:19,149 --> 00:06:21,954
a healthier business, healthier care teams, and healthier

178
00:06:21,954 --> 00:06:22,454
patients.

179
00:06:22,915 --> 00:06:25,154
But the complexities of modern health care tech

180
00:06:25,154 --> 00:06:26,995
make it hard for you and your care

181
00:06:26,995 --> 00:06:29,014
teams to focus on what matters most.

182
00:06:29,394 --> 00:06:32,514
That's where athenahealth can help. Our AI native

183
00:06:32,514 --> 00:06:35,300
all in one solutions reduce administrative burdens,

184
00:06:35,759 --> 00:06:38,639
streamline billing and payments, and deliver critical insights

185
00:06:38,639 --> 00:06:40,259
when clinicians need it most.

186
00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,219
That means fewer clicks, more time for patients,

187
00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:44,728
and stronger bottom lines.

188
00:06:45,528 --> 00:06:48,728
Practicing medicine is complex, but running a practice

189
00:06:48,728 --> 00:06:50,588
can be that much simpler with athenahealth.

190
00:06:51,288 --> 00:06:54,908
See how simpler is healthier at athenahealth.com.