Ambulatory Surgery Center News

Executive Outlook, Part III: Under-the-Radar Issues ASCs Must Monitor

By Robert Holly | Jan. 23, 2026

Why Data, Advocacy and Contract Discipline Will Define ASC Performance in 2026

by Matt Danford | Jan. 20, 2026

surgical instruments on a trary

Rise in Off-Site Sterilization Services Highlights Growing Importance for ASCs

By Audrie Martin | Jan. 16, 2026

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Executive Outlook, Part III: Under-the-Radar Issues ASCs Must Monitor

As the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry heads deeper into 2026, many of the most consequential forces shaping its future are not the ones making headlines. Beyond the familiar debates over reimbursement, procedure migration and consolidation, a sometimes quieter set of dynamics is emerging – issues that are unfolding incrementally, often outside formal rulemaking or…

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ASC Dealbook: Summit Spine Buys Savannah Pain Management; TriaVision Adds VisionFirst

Summit keeps expanding Summit Spine & Joint Centers has acquired Savannah Pain Management and Savannah Pain Center, adding an interventional pain management practice that includes one clinic and one ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Savannah, Georgia, according to a Jan. 20 press release.  According to Summit, the deal expands the company’s reach in the Southeast…

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Why Data, Advocacy and Contract Discipline Will Define ASC Performance in 2026

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are primed for growth, but this rising tide won’t lift all boats. Making the most of what promises to be a positive year for the sector will require disciplined planning, targeted investment, and a clear-eyed view of regulatory and reimbursement risk.  This was the overarching message of a recent ASC News…

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CMS: Medicare Improper Payments Totaled $28.8B for Fiscal Year 2025

Improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid – overpayments, underpayments, or payments where insufficient information was provided to determine whether a payment was “proper” – remain on the downswing. Specifically, the estimated improper payment rate for fee-for-service Medicare in Fiscal Year 2025 was 6.55%, or $28.8 billion, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…

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ASCs Emerge as Bright Spot in McKinsey’s Sober Outlook for US Health Care

A new McKinsey & Company report paints a sobering picture of U.S. health care over the next several years, marked by margin pressure, policy disruption and uneven recovery. Yet amid the turbulence, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and outpatient care models are positioned for sustained growth. “Post-acute and outpatient care continue as bright spots supported by…

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IPO List Phaseout Sets Stage for Multibillion-Dollar Shift to Surgery Centers

The shift of musculoskeletal procedures from inpatient to outpatient alone is potentially a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). That’s according to a recent analysis from Trilliant Health, a health care data and analytics company. “With the removal of the [IPO] list, we’re tracking the potential for accelerated migration to the outpatient setting, which…

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Rise in Off-Site Sterilization Services Highlights Growing Importance for ASCs

Instrument sterilization inside any health care facility is crucial for patient safety. Failing to sterilize properly can lead to serious consequences. In May, Parkwest Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) based in Knoxville, Tennessee, was sued by four patients claiming they contracted an unusual bacteria during knee procedures in 2023. This resulted in multiple…

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UnitedHealth Group’s Medicare Advantage Strategy Draws Senate Scrutiny: What ASCs Should Know

A new report out of the U.S. Senate is renewing scrutiny of how Medicare Advantage (MA) plans generate reimbursement. In turn, the report raises further questions around MA practices that could ripple across outpatient care, including the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) landscape. The report, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), focuses on UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE:…

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Highlighting ASC Market Demand, Distalmotion Secures Strategic Investment from Johnson & Johnson Innovation

Distalmotion has secured a strategic investment from Johnson & Johnson Innovation to bolster expansion of its DEXTER robotic surgery system into ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the company announced Monday. The move underscores growing interest in deploying robotic technologies outside of traditional hospital settings. For the Lausanne, Switzerland-based medical technology company, the backing adds to its…

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