Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

Advancing Ambulatory Surgery

The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) assists ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in delivering safe, high-quality, cost-effective patient care.

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Latest News

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ASCA Demands That CMS Address ASC Payment Cuts in 2027 Proposed Rule

September 1, 2026

Immediate Past President of ASCA Board Discusses ASC Economics

August 31, 2026

What’s New at One World Surgery?

August 24, 2026

ASCA 2027 Registration Now Open

August 11, 2026

Education, Programs & Services

March 31–April 3, 2027

ASCA 2027 Conference & Expo

Marriott World Center, Orlando, FL

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Webinar Series

Virtual Courses

Online Training Series

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ASC Administrator Development Program

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Clinical & Operational Benchmarking

Q1 Reports Now Available

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Salary & Benefits

2025 Reports Coming Soon

ASC Focus Magazine

A members-only print and digital magazine for the ASC community

Digital edition sponsored by

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Physician Brief

A quarterly one-pager that highlights issues relevant to physicians who own and/or work in ASCs

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One World Surgery Partnership

ASCA members interested in medical mission opportunities are invited to apply for the ASCA Foundation’s scholarship program.

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Enhancing the Patient Experience

ASCA members work at the forefront of the healthcare community to advance the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of outpatient surgery.

We know our community is making a difference and that’s why we provide the resources, education and advocacy to support this mission.

No need to visit a hospital
Medicare-certified quality
Efficient procedure scheduling and performance
Drastically reduced patient copays

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Patients Pay Less in
Surgery Centers

ASCs see reimbursement rates per procedure that are roughly half that of hospital outpatient departments (HOPD). This lower cost is passed on to the patient in the form of lower coinsurance.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Cataract Removal

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Rotator Cuff Repair

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2024 Procedure Price Lookup Comparison File, Carpal Tunnel Surgery (CPT® 64721), Cataract Removal (CPT® 66984), Rotator Cuff Repair (CPT® 29827)

Surgery Centers
by the Numbers

Medicare-certified ASCs¹

Single-specialty¹

Multispecialty¹

+

Operating Rooms¹

$ billion/year

Medicare program and beneficiary savings²

million/year

Total procedures performed²

million/year

Medicare procedures performed²

%

Medicare cataract surgeries performed in ASCs²

%

Medicare colonoscopies performed in ASCs²

¹Source: | Data Analysis, 2/12/2026 Ambulatory Surgery Center Industry Q4 2025 Insights Report

²Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary (PSPS) data, 2019 to 2021

Christine Blackburn, BSN, RN, CNOR

Administrator

South Kansas City Surgicenter

“When I first became an ASC administrator, I quickly realized there was so much I did not know. A trusted colleague encouraged me to join ASC, and it proved to be one of them most valuable decisions of my career. ASCA provides access to exceptional resources, timely industry information, and a strong network of professionals who are always willing to share knowledge and support one another. Through ASCA membership, I have grown as a leader, become a more informed administrator, and developed a deeper understanding of the ambulatory surgery industry.”

ASCA Connect, a Community for Surgery Center Professionals

ASCA member conversations happening now

Cardiac ASC Laboratory Requirements

We are developing a Cardiac/Vascular ASC but struggling with how best to manage the intra-operative laboratory needs. Are there any centers in Florida who are performing moderate-complexity testing in house under their own license? If so, I would love ... Read more
Nasal Swab Total Joints

Reaching out to see how many centers are using nasal swabs like Profend on their total joints? Anyone using something less expensive? Get Outlook for iOS KATHY HOTZ , MSN, BSN, RN ... Read more
Transfer Patient to Hospital-Discharge Summary

Could someone please direct me to the AAAHC standard that says it is the responsibility of the ASC to obtain a discharge summary from the hospital when a patient is transferred and put it into the ASC medical record for that patient. I must not be looking ... Read more
Oral sedation for cataracts

Is anyone using oral sedation (Ativan/Valium) for healthy cataract patients? If you are, I would love to talk to you regarding your process and policies. Thank you, Angela Fears, RN Clinical Director Wolfe Surgery Center ... Read more