Amid rapid technological development, economic and political shifts, one ASC leader joined Becker’s to share what he believes could be a watershed moment for the ASC industry.
Editor’s note: This response has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Benjamin Stein, MD, President and CEO of Capital Orthopaedic Surgery Center (Germantown, Md.): I believe we are at a watershed moment in the ASC industry. Increasing evidence supports improved clinical outcomes for high-acuity procedures, such as joint replacements and cervical/lumbar spine fusions, when performed in ASCs. This is accelerating the migration of these surgeries from higher-cost hospital settings to more efficient ASC venues.
Nationally, policy is supporting this shift: CMS continues to expand ASC-eligible CPT codes and move toward site cost-neutrality. At the state level, Certificate of Need (CON) laws are being relaxed, further enabling growth. Health systems and ASC operators are responding with renewed focus on both optimizing existing centers and expanding de novo pipelines.
Forward-thinking leaders at major orthopedic implant companies—such as Zimmer Biomet—also see this and are investing in technologies that drive greater surgical efficiency and improved economic value, all while maintaining excellent clinical outcomes.
Most importantly, and perhaps most compellingly, more surgeons are recognizing the value of regaining autonomy in surgical care. By operating within ASCs, they can take back control over the patient experience and outcomes in a way that’s often not possible in hospital settings.
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