August poll results: Service line shifts push ASCs to expand capacity, redefine readiness
The migration of surgical cases from inpatient settings to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) continues to reshape perioperative leadership in 2025. Nationally, the trend is driven by payer incentives, patient preference, and cost pressures, with ASCs now performing more orthopedic, spine, and complex outpatient procedures than ever before. In fact, the…
CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving to eliminate its Inpatient Only (IPO) List over the next 3 years, a decision that could permanently shift more surgical procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings. According to an August 24 article from Fierce Healthcare, the policy promises…
Artificial disc replacement proves safe, efficient, cost-saving in outpatient spine surgery
Editor's Note Artificial disc replacement (ADR) in the cervical spine can be performed safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively in outpatient/ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), Ortho Spine News July 31 reports. The article details research from Steven J. Girdler, MD, of DISC Surgery Center, who reviewed 6 years of data from 1,043 patients…
Hospital margins improve as outpatient revenue accelerates, but costs loom
Editor's Note Hospital operating margins rose in June as outpatient revenue growth fueled stronger financial performance, though rising bad debt and non-labor expenses continue to pressure stability, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest National Hospital Flash Report. HealthLeaders August 18 covered the findings. As detailed in the article, the median year-to-date…
Study: Medicare Advantage surgical episodes cost less, achieve similar quality as traditional Medicare
Editor's Note Medicare Advantage (MA) patients undergoing elective surgery incurred lower costs than comparable patients in traditional Medicare (TM) without higher readmission rates and with no significant difference in mortality rates, according to a study published August 1 in JAMA Health Forum. The findings suggest that MA plans reduce surgical…
Celebrate National ASC Month with exclusive OR Manager insights
Editor's Note As we begin National Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Month, we’ve been reflecting on all OR Manager has to offer this critical subset of our audience—and all that is yet to come. First, why celebrate ASCs, and how to get involved? According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association…
Study: Physician organizational affiliation impacts procedure locations, costs
Editor's Note Hospital-employed physicians are least likely and private equity (PE)-affiliated physicians most likely to provide care in lower-cost ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) or offices, according to a study published July 24 in the Journal of Market Access & Health Policy These care site differences translate to substantial variation in…
CMS payment overhaul could cut specialist pay
Editor's Note A “quiet transformation” in how Medicare pays doctors could reduce payments for specialty care, including rates for billing codes associated with surgery, diagnostic imaging, outpatient care, pain management, and orthopedics, Modern Healthcare July 22 reports. According to the article, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026…
CMS 2026 proposed rule: Expanded ASC access, higher payments, tighter quality reporting
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026, including extensive changes to outpatient Medicare policy such as payment increases, expanded procedural access, and new quality reporting updates, as outlined in…
ASC adaptability depends on properly structured leadership
Takeaways • Different types of ASC leadership structures can be adapted to meet organizational needs. • Regulations, accreditation standards, size, and ownership types are examples of factors influencing the leadership structure. • Ongoing success of the ASC leadership team depends on factors such as governing body diversity and strategic planning.…
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- Suicide Prevention Month: Hospitals prepare for new The Joint Commission suicide prevention goal, effective 2026
- Survey: Perioperative leaders adapt to supply strain, staffing pressure, ASC growth
- Gait retraining eases knee osteoarthritis pain as effectively as medication, can delay knee surgery
- OR leaders must sharpen questions, partnerships as AI reshapes perioperative care
- npj Digital Surgery opens call for research on AI, robotics in the OR
- AI in the OR can sharpen skills, but humans make the lessons stick
- Endoscopy case highlights risks of complex patients in ASCs
- Robotics and AI are redefining precision in cataract surgery
- CMS plan to phase out inpatient only list sparks debate over safety for vulnerable patients
- ACS issues new best practices for managing genitourinary trauma