ASC Leader WVNews reports that WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) broke ground last week on a two-story, 62,000-square-foot, $48 million outpatient surgery center on three acres adjacent to the hospital on its Bridgeport, W.Va., campus. “The outpatient surgery center will better position UHC to improve access to world-class surgery care and enhance…
According to a new study published in Health Affairs, prices rose 11% at ASCs after they were acquired by Optum, a sister company of UnitedHealthcare. Healthcare Dive has an analysis of the study. It reports that the price hikes are “probably because the newly acquired providers were able to negotiate higher…
Current Clinic, which describes itself as “the first healthcare network in the United States focused on atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia care” delivered through an “ASC-based” model, said it successfully completed its first cardiac ablation procedures late last month at its Carlsbad, N.M. location, calling them “the first cardiac ablations…
ASC development and management company Compass Surgical Partners has partnered with local physicians to develop and launch the Cardiovascular Surgical Institute of Northwest Florida, which began performing cases at its Panama City location last month. The 8,000-square-foot outpatient facility offers interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and vascular surgery procedures. Compass, referring to…
Kara Newbury, JD, chief advocacy officer of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), recently spent some time with OR Manager to discuss the impact of CMS’ 2026 Final Payment Rule, as well as how ASCA is working with both regulators and legislators to achieve even more gains for the ASC…
In its 2026 Final Payment Rule, CMS added 573 codes to the ASC Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL). It’s a big win for the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) and its advocacy efforts. Kara Newbury, JD, ASCA’s chief advocacy officer, first and foremost views the rule through the lens of Medicare…
Fierce Healthcare reports that Ascension’s $3.9 billion deal to acquire AmSurg, which operates more than 250 ASCs in 34 states, will enable the nonprofit system to enter 25 new markets and strike new partnerships with independent physicians and other health systems, according to remarks by its new president and CEO…
At many ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), “doing more with less” is an existential situation. Can artificial intelligence (AI) help alleviate the situation? That’s what Emily Spooner, president and owner of ASC consulting and management firm Marisa Consulting, will explore in her session “AI-powered insights to boost efficiency and margins in…
The promise of quicker recovery and fewer complications from sedation, anesthesia, and pain management have drawn clinicians and patients alike to procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and other outpatient settings. However, sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia add their own risks to those of the procedure itself. Understanding the latest…
Pressure to contain opioid overuse in the United States is at a boiling point. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that overdose deaths linked to opioid prescriptions have increased fivefold over the last two decades. To reduce reliance on opioid prescriptions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services…
