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 has the potential to increase care value somewhat broadly, but also has very real implications for … [Read more...]

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 emergency room visits and repeat surgeries after their initial surgeries failed to heal, according to Knoxville news … [Read more...]

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: UNH) use of diagnosis coding, data analytics and vertically integrated provider networks to boost risk-adjusted payments – … [Read more...]

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 momentum following a $150 million Series G financing round in 2025, which … [Read more...]

If 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) business model, it is also one that will test its limits. Rising labor costs, payer complexity, anesthesia shortages and margin pressure are operational realities that executives are confronting daily. The shift of higher-acuity cases into outpatient settings continues, but the economic and workforce infrastructure needed to support that growth has not always kept pace. For many operators, the challenge is … [Read more...]

There’s no denying that artificial intelligence is influencing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) by enhancing efficiency. And leaders are further exploring how AI can streamline tasks while building staff trust in the technology.  The ongoing improvement of administrative tasks is important; however, these tools must be user-friendly to gain support. Dr. Greg Horner, a general partner at Seattle-based venture capital firm Untethered Ventures, noted that the number of administrative … [Read more...]

Apella, a hospital technology company focused on operating room efficiency, has raised $80 million in new funding. The infusion of new capital comes as health systems and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) alike grapple with mounting capacity constraints and growing pressure to do more with leaner teams. The Series B round, which combines equity and venture debt, underscores investor confidence in so-called ambient AI and computer vision tools that promise to automate some of the most … [Read more...]

The decision from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow cardiac catheter ablation procedures in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) for the first time marks an important step in the evolution of outpatient cardiovascular care. Finalized in the 2026 payment rule, the change reflects growing confidence that ablations can be performed safely in well-equipped outpatient settings, supported by advances in technology, clinical evidence and care pathways that enable … [Read more...]

Chronic pain procedures are increasingly being performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), offering patients quicker access, lower costs and reduced infection risks compared to traditional hospital settings, especially benefiting older adults on Medicare. However, challenges remain in maintaining effective pain management and navigating regulatory and reimbursement hurdles.  “Reimbursement is always a challenge,” Jennifer Hodge, COO of Palmetto Pain Management, told ASC News.  “Some … [Read more...]

Compass Surgical Partners has named Mark Langston its new CEO. The change comes as the large and fast-growing ambulatory surgery center (ASC) management company prepares for its next phase of expansion amid accelerating shifts toward outpatient care. "Compass is at a point where growth is happening across multiple existing partnerships, while we also look ahead to adding new health system partnerships in 2026 and beyond," Langston said in a press release. "My focus as CEO is on building … [Read more...]