With CMS preparing major policy changes, ASC leaders are weighing in on which moves will most affect the sector’s growth in the coming years.
Nine executives and physicians recently weighed in with Becker’s about the CMS policy shifts that could have the biggest impact.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What CMS policy move do you think will affect ASC growth the most?
Scott Benko. Administrator, Virginia Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center (Virginia Beach, Va.): The biggest impact will be the continued expansion of ASC-approved procedures. Cardiac cath labs and electrophysiology will grow rapidly.
William Vanderveer. CEO, Redefine Management (Matawan, N.J.): CMS adding more than 500 procedures to the ASC covered procedures list — including 271 codes being removed from the inpatient-only list — will drive serious growth to ASCs over the next five years.
Claudio Vincenty, MD. Jacksonville Spine Center (Jacksonville, Fla.): The elimination of the inpatient-only list over three years starting in 2026, along with the addition of 500-plus procedures, will significantly expand what can safely and appropriately be performed in the ASC setting.
Shakeel Ahmed, MD. CEO, Atlas Surgical Group (St. Louis): The most important factor is the ASC covered procedures list. By approving the outward migration of more complex spine and orthopedic surgeries to ASCs, CMS is accelerating the shift to more cost-effective settings. CMS has already added more than 200 CPT codes this year, and I expect this trend to intensify. One urgent issue is payment updates — ASCs need inflation-adjusted reimbursement to remain sustainable as costs rise.
Bala Ambati, MD. Pacific ClearVision Institute (Eugene, Ore.): Site-neutral reimbursement and indexing ASC payments to healthcare inflation will be critical. Without it, many centers will continue to face financial pressure despite broader case migration.
Sandra Germany, BSN, RN. Administrator, Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists (Shreveport, La.): ASCs have a proven track record of safe, cost-effective care. Yet many cardiology procedures remain restricted to hospital settings. CMS reviewing procedures for ASC approval is a step in the right direction, but eliminating the inpatient-only list would truly expand access. The same procedures are often reimbursed at significantly higher rates in hospitals — shifting them to ASCs would reduce costs without compromising safety.
Shane Stanford, MSN. Senior Consultant, Accountable Physician Advisors (Westerville, Ohio): CMS’ massive expansion of the ASC covered procedures list will be the most important driver of growth. Adding more than 500 procedures in 2026 and allowing physicians to decide the safest site of service will open a much bigger market for ASCs and let them compete directly with hospitals for higher-acuity cases.
Tracy Hoeft-Hoffmann, MSN, RN. Administrator, Heartland Surgery Center (Kearney, Neb.): The expansion of the ASC covered procedures list and phase-out of the inpatient-only list represent a fundamental redefinition of surgical care delivery. Giving physicians discretion on site-of-service decisions will increase migration to ASCs, reduce patient costs and improve outcomes. These shifts will position ASCs as central to the future of surgical care.
Rebecca Bernstein. CEO and Founder, Innovative Healthcare Advisors (Vancouver, Wash.): The expansion of the ASC covered procedures list has been the most transformative CMS policy. When CMS approved total joint replacements in ASCs, it wasn’t just a policy update — it was a paradigm shift. Each addition broadens patient access, lowers costs and pushes hospitals and physicians to innovate through new partnerships. Alongside CPL expansion, aligning ASC payments with the hospital market basket and linking reimbursement to quality reporting will be critical for long-term growth.
