Managing Risk
Annual Ambulatory Surgical Center Update Issue
Getinge Surgical Workflows
Winter 2020/2021
Currently, there are close to 6,000 ASCs in the
United States with more than 40% located in just five
states: California, Florida, Texas, Maryland, and New
Jersey — of these, 65% are single-specialty ASCs.
Cataract surgery, with an intraocular lens implant,
represents nearly 19% of all procedures performed
in an ASC. Other common procedures include upper
GI endoscopy and biopsy (7.9%); colonoscopy and
biopsy (6.9%); and lesion removal colonoscopy (6.2%).
Spinal-related injections for pain management
represent 10.7% of all procedures.
Orthopedics, ophthalmology, and pain management
head the list of ASC specialties, followed closely
by endoscopy, plastic surgery, podiatry, ENT, and
OB/GYN. Each of these specialty procedures are
performed in 21% to 36% of all facilities.
A recent KNG Health analysis of Medicare payment
data from 2011 to 2018 shows that the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services saved $28.7 billion
from surgeries performed in ASCs instead of
hospital outpatient departments. These savings are
expected to increase to $73.4 billion from 2019 to
2028, with $12 billion saved in 2028 alone.
Like their hospital OR counterparts, ASCs were
adversely affected this year by the restrictions
imposed on elective procedures in many states in
response to the COVID-19 crisis. Revenue decreases
of 30% to 50% have not been uncommon despite the
fact that the federal government implemented a
"Hospital Without Walls" policy in late March. This
policy was designed to ensure that local health
systems have the capacity to handle any dramatic
influx of COVID-19 patients, allowing institutions to
provide hospital services in ASCs, and other approved
sites, for the duration of the public health emergency.
The policy has served to boost needed revenues for
hospitals and ASCs alike.
A majority of ASCs expect to move forward with
strategic plans formulated prior to the pandemic,
with a smaller percentage considering joining an
ASC chain or bringing on a private equity partner.
ASC 2020 facts, figures, and post-pandemic outlook*
* Dyrda L. Beckers ASC Review. 22 Sept. 2020. Web. hps://www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-billing-and-collections/medicare-to-save-73-4b-
with-surgery-in-ascs-through-2028-5-things-to-know.html?utm_medium=email
