California Medical Board; no credibility in their published data regarding ASCs & their accreditation status

My firm conducted a routine study on the elements of information the Medical Board of California is publishing regarding ambulatory surgery centers throughout the State. The law was passed a few years back requiring that his information be made public for consumer use. However, the information that is being published, we have found the inaccuracies to be grossly negligent at best, leaving the reputation of the surgery center in a very vulnerable place.

The level of inaccuracies are not simple typographical errors from an entry level data enter staff person. No, these errors are errors like the ones below, which are truely what the database was reporting when the audit was performed earlier this month:

1. Surgery Centers actually accredited by the Joint Commission, are showing accredited by AAAASF.
2. Surgery Centers with full accreditation and accreditation that is in good standing for three years, shows on the website from the Medical Board that the accreditation has been cancelled.
3. Owner/Medical Director information does not allow for search inquiry.
4. Information on the facility that is captured and reported to the Medical Board by the accrediting organization with regards to owners, shows the wrong owner having no update from the change of ownership that occured.
5. Surgery Centers with services being rendered will note that the services are not what the services are for the accrediting organization.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. It does get worse the further you dive into it. We conducted the audit on behalf of our clients, yet the Medical Board nor any of the accrediting bodies have made any follow up calls to me or any member of my staff.

The medical board used to point fingers at the accrediting organizations as any error in the database was a reflective issue on the accrediting body side, we know this not to be true and have proven otherwise.

Where do we go from here? We must challenge any surgery center in California needs to review their profile in the database to ensure that there information is correct and accurate or run the risk of private insurance companies red flagging you and denying all your claims for services rendered in the facility. To access this database, go here.