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Adding a new location or specialty to an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) can offer significant opportunities for growth, but it also requires careful planning and strategic execution. ASCs often compete with large health systems and hospitals, making differentiation critical.  “You could do a market trend [survey] that cardiovascular would probably be really good in Florida, where you have a lot of older patients moving to and they don’t want to have to fly up for care,”  Alyson Engle, a … [Read more...]

In November, Kaiser Permanente announced it would require specific modifiers to identify anesthesia providers for reimbursement under its Washington health plans, causing alarm for ambulatory surgery center (ASC) operators and stakeholders, many of whom are struggling amid a national anesthesiologist shortage.  Additionally, the reimbursement rate for QZ services performed by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) was to be reduced to 85% of the Physician Fee Schedule.  QZ is a … [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...]

As a new year begins, leaders within the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) sector are bullish on growth and focused on the innovations needed to meet rising demand. The needs and expectations of payers and patients are shaping the strategies that executives are pursuing, with the shift to more value-based reimbursement models and the aging population being major tailwinds propelling ASC growth. But headwinds also are blowing, including challenges in attracting and retaining staff, … [Read more...]

As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continue to adapt to industry trends, their designs will likely become even more patient-focused, efficient and technologically advanced.  “The key is balancing the needs of patients, families and medical staff,” Jeffrey Brand, executive director at global architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman, told ASC News. “When all three groups are considered, ASCs can deliver exceptional care and experiences.” For ASC operators, staying informed about these … [Read more...]

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...]

As ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) face challenges like supply-chain disruptions and payer negotiations, strategic partnerships are becoming more necessary for long-term success.  From collaborating with hospital systems to leveraging industry innovations and payer savings programs, ASC leaders shared their thoughts on building relationships that drive efficiency and improve patient care during a recent panel discussion at an industry conference. “For us, our valuable partners are the … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]