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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Register for ASCA’s 2025 National Advocacy Day

April 23, 2025

CMS Finalizes ASC-24 in 2025 Rulemaking

April 18, 2025

Submit Your 2025 Q1 Benchmarking Data Today!

April 11, 2025

ASCA Posts 2025 Q2 Medicare Payment Resources

April 3, 2025

Important Dates in April

April 1, 2025

ASCA’s 10 Under 40 Honors Program

March 31, 2025

Education, Programs & Services

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Covnention Center

April 30–May 3, 2025

ASCA 2025 Conference & Expo

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Denver, CO

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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

2025 Q1 data submissions open

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Salary & Benefits

2025 data collection opens soon

Purchase Reports

ASC Focus Magazine

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

Digital edition sponsored by

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Finance & Accounting

HIPAA Workbook

Physician Brief

Benchmarking Basics

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 ASCs

$ billion/year

Medicare program and beneficiary savings

million/year

Total procedures performed

million/year

Medicare procedures performed

%

Medicare cataract surgeries are performed in ASCs

%

Medicare colonoscopies are performed in ASCs

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

Colleen Ramirez, RN, CASC

Chief Administration Officer

Bone and Joint Surgery Center of Novi

“ASCA provides its members with a true community that includes professional development and connectivity. As a member, I am provided with the knowledge and resources to stay on top of the latest trends, regulations and best practices for ASCs, all while gaining personal growth in my profession.”

ASCA Connect, a Community for Surgery Center Professionals

ASCA member conversations happening now

High Alert Medication Call Outs

We are AAAHC certified and trying to meet their standards that call out both high alert and LASA drugs used in the OR and in the code cart drug trays. Is anyone willing to share how they mark their high-alert and LASA medications in the OR med carts ... Read more
Open OR Time Usage Policy

Does anyone have a policy that outlines parameters for the use of open block time? For example, surgeon A requests to pick up an open block, how long do they have to fill that block with cases before the time is released for other surgeons to use? ... Read more
Total Joint Certification

Our center is working on a Total Joint Certification through AAAHC. If your center is certified through AAAHC can you message me with recommendations or specific challenges you encountered. Jeannine Kawczynski This e-mail, and ... Read more
Terminal cleaning in OR

Would anyone be willing to share an example of their terminal cleaning check lists for the OR ? we have some very old / outdated ones , just wondering if anyone had that type of example ( a housekeeping check list ) Thankyou , Jill Jill ... Read more