Patients of private equity–affiliated physicians are the most likely to receive specialty procedures in lower-cost settings, while patients of hospital-affiliated physicians are the least likely. This is according to a new paper from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai that examined the relationship between physician affiliation, site of care and reimbursement for procedures in cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics and urology. Using Medicare claims and commercial insurance … [Read more...]
IPO List Changes Could Help Rural ASCs Stay Busy
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposal to phase out the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list over three years has stirred conversation among surgery center operators, with many seeing the potential to expand case volumes. And while such a move could be a boon for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry overall, some types of facilities may see a magnified benefit. “[The removal of the IPO list] has opened up the doors, so to speak, for those higher-margin and … [Read more...]
Avoiding Misaligned Incentives: Why Capital Considerations Are Key to ASC JV Success
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) structured as three-way joint ventures between hospitals, physicians and management companies are becoming more prevalent as health care systems seek to expand outpatient surgical capacity. Yet according to a new white paper from Merritt Healthcare, these ventures only thrive when all stakeholders align around capitalization from the start. “When capitalization isn’t thoughtfully planned, it could definitely lead to incentives that are misaligned,” Danilo … [Read more...]
As the Surgical Shift Accelerates, ASCs Must Sharpen Their Patient-Selection Strategies
As federal regulators push to eliminate the Medicare Inpatient Only (IPO) list, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) stand to benefit from a wider range of eligible procedures. But to fully capitalize on the change, ASC operators may need to refine their patient-selection process. Being able to efficiently determine whether a patient is right for a procedure in an ASC will become increasingly critical. This is something many ASC leaders are already thinking about. During Tenet Healthcare’s … [Read more...]
Ardent Health Prepares for OBBBA Medicaid Cuts, Sees Limited Opportunity in IPO List Phase-Out
Ardent Health Services (NYSE: ARDT) is preparing for long-term financial disruption stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But executives say the Nashville-based health system is well-positioned to mitigate the effects while continuing to expand ambulatory access and surgical capacity. “If implemented as planned, these cuts would begin ramping in 2028, disrupting care delivery for millions,” Ardent Health CEO Marty Bonick said during the company’s second quarter 2025 earnings call … [Read more...]
Surgery Partners Betting on ASC-Focused Future, ‘Encouraged’ by CMS Proposed Rule
Surgery Partners Inc. (Nasdaq: SGRY) will remain an independent, publicly traded company following the conclusion of its strategic review process, executives reaffirmed during the company’s second quarter 2025 earnings call on Tuesday. Instead of pursuing a sale to Bain Capital, which had been under consideration prior to June 17, the company will pivot toward selectively selling or partnering assets to accelerate cash flow and reduce debt. “The special committee of independent directors’ … [Read more...]
ASC Pipeline: TidalHealth Breaks Ground on $150M Outpatient Campus; Mount Sinai South Nassau to Open $70M Multi-Specialty Facility
TidalHealth begins outpatient campus project TidalHealth has officially broken ground on its new Millsboro North Campus, a 150,000-square-foot outpatient health care facility set to be the health system’s largest to date. Located at the intersection of Routes 113 and 20 in Millsboro, Delaware, the multi-phase campus will expand access to primary, specialty and diagnostic care for Sussex County residents. The first building, expected to open in 18 to 24 months, will house a primary and … [Read more...]
Every Step Matters: Redesigning the ASC Patient Journey from Scheduling to Discharge
When patients walk into an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), they aren’t just seeking clinical care. They’re looking for a sense of comfort, trust and dignity. That’s according to Geri Eaves, a seasoned nurse and administrator at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, a 42,000-square-foot orthopedic and spine surgery center in Franklin, Tennessee. Small touches, clear communication and thoughtful infrastructure can make all the difference for patients, Eaves recently explained at the … [Read more...]
How Sovereign Healthcare Is Expanding Its ASC Footprint Across Specialties
As the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) landscape grows more saturated – especially in a handful of key hotspots – standing out requires more than scale. It takes specialization, savvy joint ventures and operational agility. Sovereign Healthcare is making its mark across Arizona and California by focusing on all three. With a multi-specialty footprint that spans orthopedics, GI, ophthalmology, oncology and more, the company is leaning on hospital partnerships and thoughtful service … [Read more...]
HCA Healthcare Braces for One Big Beautiful Bill Act
HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) is preparing for potential fallout from federal policy changes even as its ambulatory and outpatient strategy continues to fuel strong financial performance. Executives from the Nashville, Tennessee-based health care company spoke about those and other topics during a July 25 conference call focused on Q2 2025 financial results. “We do not know what the outcome will be,” CFO Mike Cuffe said during the call, referring to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and … [Read more...]