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REFORM Alliance looks to restructure PA’s probation and parole system

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Senators introduce bill legalizing cannabis for adult-use in PA

<p>An annual report suggests northeastern Pennsylvania is a good place to set up an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC). The region&#8217;s nine such centers collectively outperformed the state average &#8220;operating margin,&#8221; the percent of income left after operating expenses are paid.</p><p>According to an annual report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, statewide ASCs had an operating margin in 2018 of 24%. The Council breaks data into nine regions, and Region 6 &#8212; including Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming and six neighboring counties &#8212; had an operating margin of 30.5%.</p><p>Only one region topped that. The operating margin in Region 4 &#8212; 10 counties in the north central part of the state &#8212; topped 37%. The lowest operating margin was posted by Region 9 (Philadelphia County): 15.5%.</p><p>While this area had the second highest operating margin of nine regions, the success was not spread equally. Among the nine ASCs listed for Region 6 in the report, the margin varied from a minus-9% for Hazleton Endoscopy to nearly 50.5% for Gateway Surgical Center in Edwardsville.</p><p>As in past similar reports, the council gives some hefty caveats,particularly regarding for-profit and nonprofit status. The council notes that physician-owned surgery centers may compensate said physicians through &#8220;distribution of net income instead of salaries or fees.&#8221; Such distributions are not reported as an operating expense.</p><p>The report also notes most ASCs are either limited liability partnerships or Sub-Chapter S corporations, meaning they are not subject to income taxes &#8220;which generally are paid as personal income tax by the owners.&#8221; That means that, with for-profit ASCs, the margin does not reflect the cost of income tax.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Report: Region’s Ambulatory Surgery Center finances beat state average