20 health systems investing in ASCs

Health systems are putting more capital into ASCs in 2026, through billion-dollar acquisitions, multisite joint ventures and single-site builds.

The documented migration of higher-acuity cases to the outpatient setting is significant, and ASC market projections show that growth is only going to continue. CMS is phasing out the inpatient-only list and added 560 procedures to the ASC covered procedures list for 2026 alone. As ASCs offer lower costs, new technology expands what can be done safely outside the hospital and payers steer more cases out of hospital outpatient departments, health systems are placing their bets on ASCs to capture surgical volume and stay competitive.

Here are 20 health systems that have invested in ASCs so far this year:

1. Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine partnered with Independence Blue Cross and Franklin, Tenn.-based Regent Surgical in September to develop at least 18 ASCs across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The three will form a new company to run the centers, a structure in which a health system, a payer and a management company are all owners.
2. St. Louis-based Ascension closed its $3.9 billion acquisition of Nashville, Tenn.-based AmSurg on June 4, growing to about 300 ASCs. The Federal Trade Commission required Ascension to divest seven AmSurg centers; six went to Optum subsidiary SC Affiliates.
3. Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health formed a joint venture with Atlas Healthcare Partners in February to develop and operate more than 15 ASCs across South Carolina, southeastern Tennessee and surrounding regions. The venture starts with two existing and two new Prisma ASCs.
4. Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services launched a joint venture with Atlas Healthcare Partners in April to build an ASC network across Minnesota and surrounding regions.
5. Wilmington, Del.-based ChristianaCare and Newark-based Cardiovascular Physicians of Delaware formed a joint venture to open a nearly 9,000-square-foot cardiovascular ASC in Newark. The roughly $9.3 million center will be managed by Atlas Healthcare Partners and is set to open in 2027.
6. Lansing, Mich.-based UM Health-Sparrow broke ground June 22 on a $60 million ASC with four operating rooms. It is set to open in 2028.
7. Morgantown-based WVU Medicine’s United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, W.Va., broke ground in February on a $48 million, 62,000-square-foot outpatient surgery center with eight robotic-capable ORs for orthopedic and spine cases.
8. Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health began construction on a $42 million, 60,000-square-foot pediatric surgery center, expected to open in early 2028.
9. New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System opened Peakpoint Central Nassau Surgery Center in Carle Place, N.Y., a joint venture with Ridgefield, Conn.-based Merritt Healthcare and a group of its surgeons.
10. San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare became a strategic equity partner in DISC Surgery Center at Carlsbad (Calif.), which will be co-branded as Sharp DISC Surgery Center Carlsbad.
11. Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health completed an expansion of Atrium Health Denver (N.C.) Surgery Center, adding a dedicated endoscopy suite and three preoperative rooms.
12. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health cut the ribbon on the final phase of its South Asheville (N.C.) Medical Park, which includes a new ASC.
13. New Castle, Ind.-based Henry Community Health broke ground Sept. 25 on an 18,300-square-foot, $17.5 million ASC in Knightstown, Ind., set to open in early 2028.
14. Valdosta, Ga.-based SGMC Health acquired Valdosta Foot & Ankle Clinic, including its accredited ASC, and is renaming it SGMC Podiatry.
15. Medford, Ore.-based Asante Health System bought the former Surgery Center of Southern Oregon building for $10.3 million on July 30. The system has not committed to reopening the ASC.
16. Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems opened ASCs in Birmingham and Foley, Ala., and acquired a majority stake in a surgery center in Anchorage, Alaska, bringing its total to 36 affiliated ASCs.
17. Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System is investing $12 million in an outpatient endoscopy and digestive health center next to its Venice hospital.
18. Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham received approval for a 6,095-square-foot endoscopy ASC in Cambridge, Mass., with three procedure rooms.
19. Saginaw, Mich.-based Covenant HealthCare announced plans to break ground on a $25 million orthopedic ASC.
20. Charleston, S.C.-based MUSC Health and Clemson (S.C.) University broke ground on a 90,000-square-foot medical facility that will include an ASC.

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.