Trend: Ambulatory Surgery Centers Reduce Costs for Insured

ASCs reduce the cost of outpatient surgery for commercially insured patients by $38 billion annually when compared to hospital outpatient departments, a recent study found. Use of an outpatient surgery center results in both reduced insurer payouts and lower out-of-pocket spending by consumers, according to the cost analysis conducted by Healthcare Bluebook and HealthSmart with technical support from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. Contributors to the study emphasized that consumers must be conscious of pricing differences among local in-network facilities. The study supports efforts by ASCs to boost cost savings by shifting more surgical procedures into ambulatory settings.

Industry Impact
ASCs benefit from evidence that outpatient surgeries in nonhospital settings are priced lower and therefore contribute to US government efforts to reduce medical expenses.

INDUSTRY INDICATORS

US consumer prices for medical care commodities, which may impact outpatient surgical centers' operational costs for equipment and supplies, increased 3.2% in June 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

US consumer prices for medical care services, an indicator of profitability for outpatient surgical centers, rose 3.8% in June 2016 compared to the same month in 2015.

Total US revenue for outpatient care centers, which includes outpatient surgical centers, rose 11.0% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the previous year.