Last year was a pivotal year for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry, marked by transformative trends, groundbreaking innovations and high-stakes decisions that reshaped the landscape. It was also an exciting year for us at Ambulatory Surgery Center News, as we launched in the summer of 2024 with a mission to deliver in-depth reporting and actionable insights tailored to ASC operators, investors, payers, clinicians and other stakeholders. Since our debut, we've brought you stories … [Read more...]
Ardent Health Ramp Ups Ambulatory Care M&A with Urgent Care Clinics Deal
One of the newer publicly traded health care companies in the U.S., Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT), is ramping up its ambulatory care M&A activity. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based Ardent announced Friday the acquisition of 18 urgent care clinics across New Mexico and Oklahoma from NextCare Urgent Care. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “Expanding our urgent care footprint represents significant progress in our mission to create a consumer-focused ecosystem of care in … [Read more...]
New Program Takes Aim at ‘Critical’ Shortage of Surgical Technologists
Getting surgical technology and equipment ready – and in the hands of surgeons at the right time – is essential to running an efficient operating room. But there’s a big problem: There’s a dire shortage of trained professionals who know how to perform such tasks in concert with surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses. A new initiative out of Oregon wants to help mitigate that challenge. Umpqua Community College (UCC) and the Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (SOWIB) announced … [Read more...]
Anthem Scraps Plan to Cap Anesthesia Coverage: What ASC Operators Should Know
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield wanted to cap anesthesia coverage after a certain point, meaning such services after a set threshold would not be reimbursed. That plan saw major blowback, with the American Society of Anesthesiologists in November calling for an immediate reversal. “Payment for anesthesia services is based on several factors, including the exact amount of time for anesthesiologists to deliver care preoperatively, during the operation, and when transitioning the patient to the … [Read more...]
PE-Backed Orthopedic Care Partners Names New CEO, Announces $185M Strategic Investment and $358M Senior Debt Refinancing
Orthopedic Care Partners (OCP) has a new top executive – and some added financial firepower for him to work with. The Gainesville, Florida-based orthopedic practice management platform announced Thursday that Dr. Tim Corvino is taking the helm as CEO. Corvino is the former CEO of Spire Orthopedic Partners. The same day, OCP announced a growth recapitalization transaction, inclusive of a $185 million hybrid capital raise provided by Brookfield Asset Management through its Brookfield Special … [Read more...]
Mount Sinai, US Anesthesia Partners Team Up to Support New Anesthesia Practice Serving ASCs
There’s a new anesthesia practice for one of health care’s largest markets – and it has its sights set on ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Mount Sinai and U.S. Anesthesia Partners Inc. on Thursday announced the formation of the new venture, officially branded as Greater New York Anesthesia Services (GNYAS). Moving forward, GNYAS will serve ASCs as well as “select Mount Sinai hospitals in conjunction with the Mount Sinai Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine,” the … [Read more...]
Vast Majority of Hospitals Plan to Grow Their Ambulatory Surgery Center Portfolios
Hospital ambulatory surgery center (ASC) investment activity is surging. That’s according to the soon-to-be-released Annual Hospital Leadership ASC Survey from Avanza Healthcare Strategies. HST Pathways previewed some of the major takeaways from the report in a LinkedIn post on Dec. 4. HST Pathways is a Nashville, Tennessee-based company that provides software and data services for the ASC market. On its end, Avanza Healthcare Strategies provides consulting services to hospitals, ASCs and … [Read more...]
‘We’re Really Going to Get on the Ball Very Early in the Year’: ASC Leaders Eager to Engage Trump Administration on CMS Rulemaking
After a somewhat disappointing rulemaking cycle for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) this year, 2025’s discussions with federal regulators will become all the more important. And a return to a Trump administration means ASC stakeholders will need to start those conversations sooner rather than later. “We're really going to get on the ball very early in the year in 2025,” Kara Newbury, chief advocacy officer for Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), said during a recent podcast … [Read more...]
CMS Proposes New Medicare Advantage Policies, Seeks Coverage for Weight-Loss Drugs
GLP-1s and Medicare Advantage (MA) are two potential headwinds for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), with each undoubtedly playing a larger role in 2025. Partly because of this increasingly prominent standing, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) proposed new policies related to both GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1s, and MA on Nov. 26. “This proposed rule includes more policies to remove unnecessary barriers to care stemming from the use of inappropriate prior … [Read more...]
Amid Mounting Compliance Risks, ASCs and Other Health Care Organizations Are Forced To Do More with Less
As cyberattacks become more frequent and the pace of regulatory change accelerates, investing in strong compliance programs is critical for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). But that’s easier said than done. ASCs are often forced to do more with less, as reimbursement cuts, wage increases, inflation and other financial pressures strain surgery centers’ bottom lines. This dilemma – investing in compliance when financial resources are scarce – is a commonality that many health care … [Read more...]