At a time when hospitals and health systems are under intense pressure to deliver care more efficiently, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly being positioned as the front door to surgical access. For patients, the model promises convenience, lower costs and quicker recoveries. For providers, it raises a different set of questions: Which cases belong in the ASC? How do staffing and scheduling dynamics play into those decisions? And how does reimbursement ultimately shape what … [Read more...]
FTC’s New Noncompete Inquiry Raises Questions for ASC Staffing
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) latest move on employee noncompete agreements is keeping the issue squarely in the spotlight. Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders are paying close attention. “The ability of ASCs to recruit and retain staff has always been tied to how noncompetes are written and enforced,” Michael McClain of Leftcoast Health told ASC News. “My fear would be that if businesses continue to expand noncompetes in a tight labor market, it’s only going to increase the … [Read more...]
USPI Beating Expectations as Tenet Looks to Expand ASC Pipeline
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) will continue to play a central role in Tenet Healthcare Corp.’s (NYSE: THC) growth strategy. That’s according to Tenet CEO Saum Sutaria, who shared an update on his business and its outpatient surgery arm during a recent investor conference. “The ability to do more things more efficiently and with good outcomes in the ASC setting is clear,” he said. United Surgical Partners International (USPI), Tenet’s ASC division, is one of the company’s strongest … [Read more...]
‘We’ve Quietly Built a Strong Portfolio’: Solara Using ‘Boutique Approach’ to Scale Its ASC Network Nationally
One of the more recent joint ventures in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) landscape is the partnership between Solara Surgical Partners and Orlando Health, announced in July. Initially, the JV will strengthen Florida’s ASC ecosystem. But the partnership between Solara and Orlando Health also sets the stage for expansion into other markets across the U.S., executives told ASC News. “This JV marks an important milestone for Solara – not only in terms of growth but in reinforcing our … [Read more...]
HCA CFO Michael Marks: ‘We’re Pretty Active on the Outpatient Side’ Amid Policy, Payer Pressures
Nashville, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) is stepping up its focus on outpatient growth, CFO Michael Marks told investors during a Sept. 4 presentation. While leaders from HCA, which operates the large ambulatory surgery center (ASC) chain Surgery Ventures, have made similar remarks in the past, Marks’ fresh remarks underscore the growing importance of outpatient strategy among the nation’s major health care operators. “We’re pretty active on the outpatient side with M&A,” … [Read more...]
ASCs Still Struggling with Prior Authorization Despite Payer Pledges
Prior authorization has long been one of the most frustrating challenges in outpatient surgery. For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), where speed and access are supposed to be big advantages, prior authorization often feels like the opposite, sources told ASC News. And even with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and major payers promising change, ASC leaders and technology vendors say the problem is still very much there. “Prior authorizations have been the bane … [Read more...]
Inside the TEAM Model: CMS Bundled-Payment Model Could Push More Surgeries into Outpatient Settings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) will launch in 2026, requiring hospitals to take responsibility for the cost and quality of care for select surgeries. While the model is aimed at hospitals, it also has big implications for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), especially for procedures that can be performed in both inpatient and outpatient settings. “The team model is the largest mandatory bundled payment model ever … [Read more...]
HCA’s Surgery Ventures Names Shaun Cartwright Chief Operating Officer
Surgery Ventures has named Shaun Cartwright chief operating officer, according to a post from the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) business on LinkedIn. Cartwright has been with the organization since 2006 and most recently served as senior vice president of operations. He has overseen the creation of new leadership roles within the company, including the first assistant vice president of operations position. Specifically, Cartwright was responsible for Surgery Ventures’ Western Region, … [Read more...]
ASC Pipeline: Joint & Spine Center at Powers Health Opens in Crown Point; Slocum Announces New Surgery Center
Joint & Spine Center at Powers Health launches Powers Health and Orthopedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana (OSNI) have opened a new orthopedic ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Crown Point. The 11,000-square-foot facility will offer procedures ranging from hip and knee replacements to minimally invasive spine operations and robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery. The center also provides treatment for shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and foot and ankle conditions. “I know that … [Read more...]
Bone and Joint Institute Surgery Center CEO Geri Eaves on Tech, Talent and the Future of Outpatient Care
At the Bone and Joint Institute Surgery Center in Franklin, Tennessee, growth has remained steady despite post-COVID staffing hurdles and ongoing financial pressures. Geri Eaves, the center’s CEO and administrator, recently spoke with Ambulatory Surgery Center News about the shift toward higher-acuity orthopedic and spine cases, how her team navigated labor shortages without stipends, and why technology is at the center of her 2025 investment strategy. The conversation – edited for style, … [Read more...]