CASE STUDY: The Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (OASCA)

The Oregon Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (OASCA) is a statewide membership association representing the interests of the outpatient surgery center industry in Oregon and nationwide. OASCA provides advocacy, education, networking opportunities and media relations services for its members.

In March of 2011, OASCA found itself in the middle of a legislative session in Oregon without representation. As a historically politically active group, this could have been a crisis situation, but fortunately the Pac/West lobby team was able to step in quickly to assist OASCA in achieving its legislative objectives.

With only a partial session to work with, our lobbyists were able to pass legislation on behalf of OASCA including Medicaid payment methodologies and a negotiated compromise with the commercial insurance lobby which improved payment timelines for ASCs and other providers.

Our team has also elevated the organization’s leadership to the point that OASCA members are quickly becoming familiar faces that legislators now call for advice on important issues. In addition to relationship building, Pac/West has worked with the OASCA PAC to ensure that all campaign contributions are maximized for organizational objectives and best value.

Pac/West continues to assist OASCA in negotiations with the commercial insurers to solve a number of ongoing issues related to insurance payment structures. We are also building strategies around cost-saving measures to become central players in new Coordinated Care Organizations and are ensuring that private pay members (including public employees) continue to have open access to ASC facilities.

The Pac/West lobby team was able to move quickly on behalf of the OASCA during a time of crisis because of our good relationships in Salem and the deep roots our team members have in the legislature. Utilizing our resources, we were able to turn around what could have been a complete loss for OASCA and improve the organization’s visibility, turning them into players on issues with which they would have otherwise not been involved.