One of the largest ambulatory surgery center (ASC) chains in the U.S. could be up for grabs. After seeing its stock price tumble throughout 2024, Surgery Partners (Nasdaq: SGRY) is now exploring strategic alternatives for the business, including a potential sale, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The ASC company has already engaged a financial adviser to gauge buyout interest, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Founded in 2004, the Brentwood, … [Read more...]
Optum Fuels UnitedHealth Group Revenue Growth, House Calls Arm Presents Intriguing Synergy for Surgery Centers
Optum – the parent of major ambulatory surgery center (ASC) chain SCA Health – continues to play an important role at health care giant UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). Not too long ago, Optum played a complementary role under the broader UnitedHealth Group umbrella. Now, however, Optum is taking center stage, with the health care services arm serving as UnitedHealth Group’s leading revenue generator. “In the first half of the year, revenues grew by nearly $14 billion, with strong … [Read more...]
Health Care-Tourism Pioneer Excel Health Acquires Journey Surgery Center
Excel Health has acquired Journey Surgery Center. Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, Excel Health isn’t the typical surgery center buyer. Broadly, Excel Health’s business model pairs medical services with tourism, with Excel’s centers offering surgical care and personalized treatments in some of the nation’s most beautiful locations. Based in Aliso Viejo, California, Journey Surgery Center specializes in minimally invasive spine, pain management and orthopedic procedures. "We are … [Read more...]
ASCA CEO Bill Prentice: Proposed Changes to ASC Covered Procedures List Are ‘Disheartening’
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 proposed payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments last week. The headliner from CMS was its proposed 2.6% effective payment update for next year, a figure based on a 3% inflation update plus a 0.4% productivity reduction. As it pertains to that update, CMS listened to industry feedback and mirrored proposed payment changes for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments … [Read more...]
New Surgery Ventures ASC Blue River Surgery Center Opens in Kansas City
Hammes Partners – a national real estate consulting, development, investment and management firm – has completed its latest ambulatory surgery center (ASC) project. The Blue River Surgery Center in Kansas City is a 22,500-square-foot ASC that houses five operating rooms and two specialty procedure rooms for orthopedic, gastroenterology and other multi-specialty cases. Now open, the ASC was developed for Surgery Ventures, the ASC arm of HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA). The center – located in a … [Read more...]
ASC Technology Roundup: Globus Medical Wins FDA Clearance; Sovato Completes Remote Robotic Surgical Tests
FDA clears orthopedics robot for TKA from Globus Medical Globus Medical has won FDA clearance for its new ExcelsiusFlex orthopedics robot stereotaxic surgery in knee procedures and an expanded indication for its ExcelsiusHub system. Audubon, Pennsylvania-based Globus Medical received the 510(k) clearance on June 14 for the robotic positioning system, which was designed to help surgeons position implant components and prepare bony anatomy during orthopedic procedures. “We are excited to … [Read more...]
ASC Operator Ardent Health Partners Files IPO Paperwork, Highlights ‘Robust Pipeline of Ambulatory Opportunities’
There might soon be another ambulatory surgery center (ASC) player on the public market. Ardent Health Partners announced Friday that it filed the necessary paperwork to go public with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The S-1 filed by Ardent outlined plans to raise $100 million in an initial public offering, though that’s likely a placeholder, with the exact number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering to be later determined. Ardent Health … [Read more...]
‘The ASC Sector Is Seeing Immense Opportunity’: Regent Surgical Names Christa Blumenshine CFO
Regent Surgical has added a key C-suite executive to its leadership team. The Franklin, Tennessee-based ASC operating company named Christa Blumenshine as its next CFO on June 18. Prior to joining Regent, Blumenshine served as CFO of AmeriVet Veterinary Partners, a private equity-backed consolidator of 210 veterinary practices. Blumenshine has also held roles at U.S. Renal Care and United Surgical Partners International (USPI). “Our partners consistently cite our leadership team’s … [Read more...]
CMS to End Advanced Payment Program Tied to Change Healthcare Cyberattack: What ASCs Should Know
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and other health care providers experienced pronounced payment disruptions earlier in 2024 due to the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Many of these health care providers mitigated the financial impact of that disruption via a form of short-term loan from the government. This lifeline will soon go away, however. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that its advanced and accelerated payment program tied to the cyberattack … [Read more...]
AMSURG Inks JV Deal with Palomar Health
AMSURG – one of the largest ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators in the U.S. – is teaming up with a major West Coast health system. The Nashville, Tennessee-based AMSURG announced Tuesday that it has established a new joint venture with Palomar Health. As part of the JV, AMSURG will work with Palomar via the system’s Poway Surgery Center. The strategic partnership will enable the organizations and their affiliated physicians to increase access and quality outpatient care in Poway, … [Read more...]