Ambulatory Surgery Center Growth Study 2009

KNG Healthcare just released a study showing the critical impact ambulatory surgery centers have on the delivery of high quality, lower cost healthcare. The report was released in conjunction with the ASC Coalition.

Examing the growth in the number of ASCs from 2000 to 2007, the study concludes that Medicare payments to ASCs increased more than Medicare payments to hospital outpatient departments, reflecting the shift of many Medicare services into the ambulatory surgery center setting. The study also aimed to conclude that ambulatory surgery centers should continue to be utilized to decrease Medicare spending overall, by offering high quality services in a lower cost setting. Also of note, opthamology accounted for the largest percentage of Medicare spending growth in surgery centers, with GI procedures accounting for the second largest. This is no surprise as there is also an increased demand for more preventative cancer and other screening services. However, it has not contributed to a growth in the number of surgical procedures, which could indicate that surgery centers, especially those with physician ownership, have an increased incentive to reduce unnecessary costs. The study continues with a thorough discussion of the current policy issues and economic factors affecting ambulatory surgery centers. A copy of the full report can be found here.