Ambulatory Surgery Centers, also known as ASCs, are facilities that perform surgeries which do not require hospitalization. 35% of facilities are multi-specialty providers that perform a mix of surgical services; the rest are solely dedicated to a specific type of surgery, such ophthalmology or gastroenterology.
In the U.S. over 22 million procedures are performed annually, at one of over 5,000 ASCs. ASCs are highly regulated in the U.S.: 43 states require ASCs to be licensed and specify criteria with which ASCs must comply, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) also certifies ASCs in the U.S. State and federal authorities review ASCs regularly to ensure compliance with standards.
In 1982, CMS agreed to pay reimbursements for surgeries performed at ASCs. Today over 2,400 procedures have been approved for reimbursement when performed at an ASC. Significant cost reductions can be achieved when patients do not require overnight care in a hospital. However, CMS also pays lower reimbursements for procedures performed at an ASC versus a hospital.