With shrinking margins, staffing shortages and shifting physician demographics, independent ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators are increasingly considering whether they should continue going it alone – or turn to a strategic partner for backup. Strategic partnerships can help mitigate common industry challenges by potentially securing better reimbursement rates, leveraging group purchasing agreements and bringing in additional patient volume, William Teague of VMG Health, a health … [Read more...]
The States, Cities with the Most High-Performing Ambulatory Surgery Centers
There are thousands of high-performing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) operating across the United States. But some cities and states have far more high-performing ASCs than others, a new industry ranking from U.S. News & World Report suggests. U.S. News & World Report released its Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers ratings for 2025 on Tuesday. To compile its list of top ASCs, the organization evaluated 4,357 surgery centers in four specialty areas: colonoscopy and endoscopy, … [Read more...]
Tenet Mitigating Policy Risks with Payer Mix, High-Acuity Volume
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is pivoting toward higher-acuity services to mitigate policy risks in the face of legislative uncertainties, including Medicaid cuts and site neutrality. The company has already increased its higher-acuity procedures volume, but that trend will continue. “Our focus is on continuing to build and expand our high-margin service lines,” CEO Saum Sutaria said at the recent Barclays Global Healthcare Conference. To that tune, Tenet is investing in … [Read more...]
New AcuityMD Data Reveals Rapid Shift of Spinal Surgeries into ASCs
AcuityMD, a commercial intelligence platform for the med-tech industry, unveiled new data at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2025 Annual Meeting related to the shift of higher-acuity procedures into outpatient settings. Of note for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the new data revealed how spinal surgeries increased nearly 8% annually from 2021 through 2024. From 2018 through 2024, nearly 900,000 outpatient spinal procedures were performed in ASCs in the United … [Read more...]
‘Nurses Speak Surgeon’: Why Clinical Leadership Matters in ASC Administration
Having nurse administrators at the helm of an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) can help the facility better weather staffing shortages. It can also help centers come up with more “creative” solutions, some industry leaders believe. “There’s a place for folks that are non-clinicians in ASCs, but I just don’t think it should be as the administrator,” Janet Carlson, executive director of ambulatory surgery centers for Commonwealth Pain & Spine, told Ambulatory Surgery Center … [Read more...]
When It Comes to Site-Neutral Payments, ASCs Could Become Important ‘Solution to the Problem’
For years, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have operated at a reimbursement disadvantage compared to hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and other – often costlier – health care settings. Yet a growing push for site-neutral payments could soon level the playing field, potentially reshaping the financial landscape for ASCs, hospitals and payers alike. And Brentwood, Tennessee-based Surgery Partners (Nasdaq: SGRY) is embracing the movement wholeheartedly, according to CEO Eric … [Read more...]
Ardent Highlights Blueprint for ASC Growth Through Urgent Care Acquisition Strategy
Urgent care capabilities can act as a “front door” to higher-acuity services. That, in turn, can be a boon to ambulatory surgery center (ASC) expansion. This was Ardent Health Partners Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) CEO Marty Bonick’s sentiment on the outpatient market during the company’s investor presentation on March 10. “There’s about 5.6 million people that live in our markets,” Bonick said. “We saw over 1.2 million unique patients last year. … As we can get more people into our system, they’re … [Read more...]
Ambulatory Surgery Center Stakeholders Sound Alarm Over HHS Proposal to Rescind Public Participation in Rulemaking
Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) stakeholders are raising concerns after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its intention to rescind the long-standing policy requiring public participation in certain rulemaking processes, particularly those involving Medicare, Medicaid and reimbursement. The move could significantly limit opportunities for ASC operators and others to comment on future regulatory changes. And it might lead to legal challenges, too. “I believe … [Read more...]
Study: Physician Turnover Surges After Private Equity Exits
Physician turnover rises significantly after the sale of private equity-owned physician practices. What’s more, those departing are significantly more likely to join larger groups. That’s according to a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum that examined 1,215 physicians, comparing those whose practices were sold by PE owners with similar physicians in practices that did not undergo a sale. Two years after the sale, physicians in PE-exiting practices were 16.5 percentage points … [Read more...]
From HOPD Conversions to Culture-Building: What It Takes to Launch High-Performing ASCs
When it comes to developing, launching and growing a successful ambulatory surgery center (ASC), the journey for operators can be both exciting and challenging. Along the way, there are certain key factors that can determine whether an ASC will thrive. Few understand this better than Stacy Danahy, who has spent more than 25 years opening and managing dozens of ASCs across the country. Danahy currently serves as the vice president of orthopedic and spine growth and strategy at Compass … [Read more...]