DISC Surgery Center, a provider for high-acuity outpatient spine and joint procedures, is planting its flag in Florida for the first time. The California-based ambulatory surgery center (ASC) network, backed by management company TriasMD, will open a new facility in West Palm Beach later this year – its sixth ASC overall and first outside of the Golden State. The DISC Surgery Center at West Palm Beach will include three operating suites, seven pre-op rooms, five PACU bays and an on-site … [Read more...]
Cleveland Clinic, Regent Surgical Strike ASC Joint Venture Agreement
Cleveland Clinic – a health system known for being a pioneer in heart surgery and innovations in minimally invasive procedures – is teaming up with ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operator Regent Surgical. On May 7, Cleveland Clinic and Regent announced the pair are partnering to enhance access to surgical care for patients in the health system’s U.S. markets. The partnership will focus on developing ASCs while streamlining Cleveland Clinic’s outpatient care delivery … [Read more...]
Ardent Health Sees Ambulatory Expansion as Growth Driver Despite Dip in Outpatient Surgeries
Even with a slight dip in outpatient surgical volumes, Ardent Health Services (NYSE: ARDT) is doubling down on its push to build out ambulatory access points. That, in turn, may signal that the race to capture same-market ambulatory surgery center (ASC) demand – and eventually expand in new markets – is just beginning. The Nashville-based company, which went public last year, reported first-quarter 2025 revenue of $1.5 billion, up 4% from the prior year’s same period. Admissions rose 2.7%, … [Read more...]
New Legislation Seeks Fairer Medicare Co-Pay Structure for ASCs
A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives recently introduced the Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act of 2025, a bill that aims to address inequities in Medicare’s copay structure and help lower costs for patients receiving care at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Currently, patients who seek care at both ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) typically face a 20% co-pay. However, while HOPDs benefit from a copay cap, set at $1,676 for 2025, patients at ASCs often face … [Read more...]
ASC Quality Collaboration Director Outlines Metrics, Training Needed to Sustain Clinical Excellence in Outpatient Surgery
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are facing mounting pressure to prove clinical excellence as payers pivot toward value‑based contracts and higher‑acuity cases migrate to the outpatient setting. Yet because ASCs are different from the hospital setting, they require different benchmarking standards. Nina Goins, executive director of the ASC Quality Collaboration, said her coalition’s new safety and quality assessment, national benchmarking data, and ASC‑specific performance measures can … [Read more...]
HCA Gains Outpatient Edge as ASC Strategy Sees Traction
Outpatient revenue outpaced inpatient gains at HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) in the first quarter of 2025. Company leaders said ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are helping drive that trend as HCA ramps up capital investment in lower-cost settings. After a rough Q4 with the impact of hurricanes Milton and Helene, the Nashville, Tennessee-based health care giant’s revenue was $18.32 billion for Q1, slightly above the expected $18.26 billion. For context, HCA reported revenues of $17.34 … [Read more...]
Majority of ASCs Now Administering OAS CAHPS Survey, ASCA Finds
A new survey from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) found that a significant majority of ambulatory surgery centers are now actively administering the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey, following its mandate as part of the Medicare ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program. The March 2025 ASCA 60-Second Survey, which gathered responses from 261 facilities across 44 states, showed a marked shift since last … [Read more...]
Patient Selection: How ASC Operators Can Ensure a Safe Surgical Experience
For ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators, everything comes down to making sure patients get the right care in the right place. As more complex procedures are moving into the outpatient setting, it is important to understand the factors that may make a patient a good fit for outpatient surgery. Ambulatory Surgery Center News connected with Dr. Glenn Snyders, medical director and head of anesthesiology at DISC Surgery Center in Carlsbad, to go over some of the best patient selection … [Read more...]
UnitedHealth Group’s Push for Immediate Cyberattack Loan Repayment Shakes Independent Practices
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is reportedly demanding that health care providers repay loans they received from the insurer in the wake of a massive cyberattack last year on subsidiary Change Healthcare. In February of last year, a ransomware attack brought down a swath of Change Healthcare’s payment and processing systems. This shutdown lasted for months, causing far-reaching disruptions that impacted providers across the country. Physicians, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and … [Read more...]
‘Pit Crew’ Approach Slashes OR Turnover Time, Boosts ASC Efficiency
For ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), success across a variety of areas can be linked back to operating room efficiency. OR efficiency is critical for ASCs because it directly impacts a facility's ability to maximize case volume and revenue within limited operating hours. Efficient OR booking ensures optimal utilization of surgical time, while fast, safe turnover between procedures minimizes downtime, improves patient flow and enhances surgeon satisfaction. Together, these efficiencies … [Read more...]