ASCs completed insurance verification on 83% of cases in 2025, leaving 233,856 cases unverified, according to HST Pathways’ 2026 State of the ASC Industry Report.
The report draws on data from 682 surgery centers in 45 states.
Here are five things to know:
1. Of the cases tracked, 1,148,860 completed insurance verification in 2025 and 233,856 did not.
2. The verification rate has risen 3 percentage points a year, from 77% in 2023 to 80% in 2024 and 83% in 2025.
3. Prior authorization rates are lower. In 2025, 59% of all cases completed pre-authorization, up from 42% in 2023. When pre-authorization was required, 32% of cases completed it.
4. Insurance issues accounted for 4.7% of case cancellations with a recorded reason in 2025.
5. The physician’s office should verify eligibility first, and the surgery center should then run verification again at least twice, the report said: once right after accepting the case and again the morning of the procedure. It also recommends re-running verification on the first of each month for that month’s cases, and using integrated payer technology so staff don’t spend hours on the phone with payers.
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.
