Stagnant insurance reimbursements, the lengthy CON application process and uncertainty from governmental policies are three challenges ASCs are dealing with in 2025 that could be hindering growth opportunities.
These three ASC administrators and leaders recently connected with Becker’s to share the unexpected challenges facing the industry.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What unexpected obstacles are causing headwinds in the ASC industry so far in 2025?
Ellen Althouse, Administrator of Scranton (Pa.) Endoscopy Center: While 2025 has been a strong year in the ambulatory surgery center space so far, obstacles are always to be anticipated with growth. The top ones that come to mind for our center are stagnant insurance reimbursements, rising anesthesia costs, staffing challenges in the face of highly competitive hospital systems’ benefits, recently imposed tariffs and last-minute patient cancellations.
Together, these pressures can cause operational and financial strains if not carefully monitored and are collectively forcing the ASC industry to prioritize resource allocation while seeking new strategies to maintain exceptional care and operational stability. In partnership with AMSURG, we continue to work proactively in navigating these headwinds by leveraging data-driven solutions and investing in staff support.
Dawn Anthopoulos, RN. Senior Director, Clinical Services of Atlas Healthcare Partners (Phoenix): I am not sure if these are all unexpected, but they are certainly causing headwinds:
- CON application process taking up to 16 months
- Anesthesia provider shortage – remaining persistent
- Increasing operational costs/inadequate reimbursement
- Staffing shortages/retention issues
Andrew Gwinnell. Executive Director of Truvista Surgery Center (Troy, Mich.): The tariff issues impacting both cost and procurement of supplies has been challenging to manage. Governmental policy fluidity creates an environment where we are constantly re-evaluating supply arrangements and P&L forecasts.
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