Adapting ASC Strategies for the Future of Surgical Care

The healthcare industry is undergoing rapid transformation, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are feeling the impact. Consolidation is accelerating, with private equity firms, health systems, and insurers expanding outpatient growth strategies and competing for control of assets. At the same time, regulatory pressures are mounting, and new mandates around price transparency and quality reporting are raising administrative complexity.

Perhaps most significantly, the reimbursement paradigm is changing, moving steadily from fee-for-service to value-based payment models. This shift requires a fresh perspective on how ASC success is defined, as traditional performance indicators, while still important, are no longer enough on their own. To maintain financial sustainability and achieve market differentiation, ASC leaders must adopt a broader strategic approach and address key questions, such as:

• How can ASCs participate meaningfully in value-based contracts?
• What role should ASCs play in risk-sharing arrangements with payors and physician groups?
• How can ASCs retain physician engagement while preparing for new care delivery models, rising labor costs, and increasing patient expectations?

These questions can’t be answered with old playbooks or off-the-shelf solutions. Instead, the path forward requires a strategy where financial growth and clinical and operational excellence are no longer treated as separate efforts, but as interconnected priorities.

In this complex environment, the ASCs that prove most resilient will be those that embrace change and proactively explore new opportunities, such as strategic collaborations and network affiliations that can expand referral pipelines and drive incremental volume without compromising clinical standards.

The opportunity for ASCs has never been greater. As outpatient surgery continues to gain popularity, ASCs are uniquely positioned to deliver high-value care that benefits both patients and the broader healthcare system. To fully capitalize on this potential, however, ASC leaders must look beyond current operations. Remaining competitive in the years ahead will hinge on proactive planning and partnerships aligned with reimbursement models that increasingly emphasize performance and accountability.

NueHealth works alongside ASC leaders who are focused on achieving long-term growth and viability. With expertise in both ASC management and value-based care, we help centers navigate what’s changing and plan for what’s next. If your team is looking ahead, let’s talk about how we can help you get there.