News

As the health care landscape continues to evolve, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. From shifting reimbursement models to advances in surgical technology, ASCs must navigate a dynamic environment to remain competitive, efficient and patient-focused. To explore these and other topics, Ambulatory Surgery Center News is officially launching our 2025 industry outlook survey. This survey – live through Jan. 31, 2025 – aims to uncover key … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

SCA Health, the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) arm of Optum, acquired OrthoAlliance, an orthopedic management services organization. The acquisition, effective as of November 1, expands SCA Health’s network in orthopedic and sports medicine services. Optum is the health services business of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UHG). “Since its founding in 2019, OrthoAlliance has focused on providing instant access to high-quality, value-based care throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky,” SCA told ASC … [Read more...]

Baxter has provided its final update for 2024 on the recovery of its North Cove, North Carolina, manufacturing facility following the unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.  Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators nationwide have been closely monitoring these updates due to the critical role North Cove plays in the supply of IV solutions and other essential products. While reports of ASCs needing to pull back on procedures due to the situation are no longer widespread, one … [Read more...]

New medical office building construction begins near Gleneagle Construction has started on a new two-story medical office building in Colorado Springs, Colorado, aimed at expanding cardiology and vascular care access. The 35,000-square-foot facility will feature an ambulatory surgery center, a standalone cardiac catheterization lab, imaging services and diagnostic facilities. “This has been part of the plan for Colorado Springs Cardiology, in the name of expanding access for patients for … [Read more...]

Last week, U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) released a bipartisan framework to advance site-neutral Medicare payment reform. With rising patient demand for lower-cost outpatient options, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are positioned to capitalize on this shift if reimbursement parity is achieved. The proposed framework could level the playing field between hospitals and independent care providers by standardizing Medicare payments across different care … [Read more...]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized 2025 Medicare payment rates and quality reporting program updates for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). ASC payment rates will increase 2.9% in CY 2025 for centers meeting relevant quality reporting requirements, according to a final rule that CMS issued Friday. The rule received backlash from industry stakeholders.  “This final rule is a step sideways in a time when millions of Medicare beneficiaries need CMS to advance … [Read more...]

OrthoCarolina has acquired Matthews Surgery Center from health care network Novant Health. Financial terms of the deal – made official on Oct. 1 – were not disclosed. OrthoCarolina will now own, operate and manage the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) moving forward. “We deeply value our longstanding relationship with Novant Health, whose collaboration has helped ensure access to high-quality, affordable care for our patients," OrthoCarolina Chief Administrative Officer Bob Raspa said in a … [Read more...]