Despite some setbacks in the third quarter, Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT) continues to progress with its expansion plans in 2026 after adjusting its business strategy. That’s according to Ardent leadership’s remarks during the company’s Q3 earnings call on Nov. 13. During the call, leaders announced the company generated significant patient volumes and revenue growth, driven by improving surgical trends and sustained industry strength. It was also reported that in the second half of 2025, … [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...]
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...]
Ardent Highlights Blueprint for ASC Growth Through Urgent Care Acquisition Strategy
Urgent care capabilities can act as a “front door” to higher-acuity services. That, in turn, can be a boon to ambulatory surgery center (ASC) expansion. This was Ardent Health Partners Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) CEO Marty Bonick’s sentiment on the outpatient market during the company’s investor presentation on March 10. “There’s about 5.6 million people that live in our markets,” Bonick said. “We saw over 1.2 million unique patients last year. … As we can get more people into our system, they’re … [Read more...]
‘There Are Opportunities to Expand Both in the Hospital and Beyond’: Ardent Health Doubles Down on Ambulatory Growth Strategy
One of the newer publicly traded health care companies on the market – Ardent Health Partners Inc. (NYSE: ARDT) – has been very clear about its ambulatory care ambitions. Executives at the Brentwood, Tennessee-based Ardent Health doubled down on those ambitions Thursday, emphasizing that outpatient expansion is central to the company’s vision for the future as more patients look for convenient sites of care outside of the hospital. “During 2024, we advanced our ambulatory growth strategy, … [Read more...]
Ardent Health CEO: ASC Growth Strategy Likely to Be A ‘Longer Build,’ Focused on De Novos
Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT) is pushing to meet patients where they are, whether in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, or through digital solutions, CEO Marty Bonick said Jan. 14 during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. That also is likely to increasingly include ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the future. “We operate in eight growing, mid-sized urban markets, … with a very consumer-centric focus in terms of how we’re growing and expanding,” Bonick said. Ardent currently … [Read more...]