Ambulatory Surgery Center News

Unchecked Access, Unseen Harm: Why ASCs Must Take Drug Diversion Seriously

By Shelby Grebbin | July 11, 2025

UnitedHealthcare’s Anesthesia Payment Shift Could Disrupt ASC Staffing Models

By Robert Holly | July 11, 2025

Navigating the Shifting Economics of Anesthesia in ASCs

By Shelby Grebbin | July 8, 2025

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New Data Shows Stark Price Variation in Ophthalmology Procedures, Facility Fees

A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology highlights major disparities in what commercial insurers pay for common ophthalmology procedures. To a large degree, the sweeping differences are linked to facility fees, including at facilities such as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Using recently mandated Transparency in Coverage (TiC) data from January 2025, researchers at Brown University…

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Unchecked Access, Unseen Harm: Why ASCs Must Take Drug Diversion Seriously

Drug diversion in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) is more common than most operators realize. And the consequences of not taking the topic seriously are far-reaching. Although the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) inspects ASCs less commonly than hospitals, that doesn’t mean these facilities are off the hook, Dennis Wichern, a retired DEA agent and partner at…

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UnitedHealthcare’s Anesthesia Payment Shift Could Disrupt ASC Staffing Models

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is pushing back against UnitedHealthcare over changes to its reimbursement policy for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Specifically, UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, is cutting reimbursement by 15% for claims submitted by CRNAs when those providers are not supervised by a physician anesthesiologist. For ambulatory surgery centers…

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Zimmer Biomet, Getinge Partner to Offer ‘Turnkey’ ASC Solutions

Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: ZBH) and Getinge on July 10 announced a strategic partnership that aims to provide ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with a bundled offering of surgical capital equipment, infection control products and implants via a single point of contact. Under the agreement, Zimmer Biomet will distribute Getinge’s operating room capital products – including OR…

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Navigating the Shifting Economics of Anesthesia in ASCs

Anesthesia remains one of the biggest pain points for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Anesthesia reimbursement has dropped 8.2% over the past decade while provider salaries have climbed as much as 40%. In turn, that has contributed to creating a growing financial strain on ASC operators. Randy Quinn, chief compliance officer and chief integration officer at…

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New Data Shows Stark Price Variation in Ophthalmology Procedures, Facility Fees

A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology highlights major disparities in what commercial insurers pay for common ophthalmology procedures. To a large degree, the sweeping differences are linked to facility fees, including at facilities such as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Using recently mandated Transparency in Coverage (TiC) data from January 2025, researchers at Brown University…

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What Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Means for ASCs

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending legislation – the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) – is now law. The legislation has far-reaching implications not only for the federal deficit and tax policy but also for the health care sector. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), it presents a mixed bag of short-term relief and long-term uncertainty.…

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ASCs Push for Growth Despite Mounting Operational Pressures

As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) enter the back half of 2025, operators are navigating a crosscurrent of forces. On one side is a drive toward growth, whether that’s through new specialties, strategic partnerships or investment in technologies such as robotics and AI. On the other: a thicket of operational hurdles that continue to complicate ASCs’…

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How ASCs Can Use AI, Other Tech Tools to Strengthen Compliance

Compliance may never be glamorous, but for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) navigating evolving regulations, staffing shortages and tightening margins, it is an especially important component of success. And that makes investing in compliance-support strategies critical, industry insiders point out. “Each and every day is a different day,” Suzi Gausman, CEO of Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, said…

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