ASC News

Here are five statistics offering insight into the state of physician employment in 2024:

Artificial intelligence, and its usage in healthcare, has been a controversial topic over the last year. While some physicians are excited for its uses, others remain nervous. 

While ASCs are more frequently getting acquired by large health systems, there are still a number of privately owned ASCs in the nation. 

Fremont, Calif., is the happiest city in the U.S., while Detroit is the unhappiest, according to personal finance site WalletHub.

Medicare Advantage has been a divisive topic in the healthcare industry as of late, with some health systems cutting ties with certain insurers or with the program entirely.

United Surgical Partners International has solidified itself as a market leader in the ASC segment, operating the most centers and affiliating with the highest number of physicians of any chain in the U.S. 

UnitedHealth Group's Optum has become a powerhouse in healthcare.

False Claims Act settlements and judgments surpassed $2.68 billion during the 2023 fiscal year, according to a Feb. 22 news release from the Justice Department.

At the end of 2022, several ASC industry groups, including the Association of Operating Room Nurses, expressed disappointment in CMS for only adding four new procedures to the ASC-covered list for 2023. 

Outpatient surgical volumes are only expected to grow in the coming years, led largely by orthopedic procedures including joint replacements, spinal fusions and knee replacements, according to a study from healthcare intelligence firm Sg2.