MedPAC's 2019 commission report to Congress outlined data on ASC characteristics, including the specialties where patients treated experience the most subsequent hospital visits.
"Subsequent hospital visits" include emergency department visits, inpatient admissions and observation services within seven days of discharge from an ASC; it does not include mental health services. MedPAC's data stems from Medicare physician, hospital inpatient and hospital outpatient claims.
The key details to know:
2014
Gastroenterology and ophthalmology
Number of cases: 4,871
Share of cases within type of ASC: 1.9 percent
Pain management
Number of cases: 6,745
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.2 percent
Urology
Number of cases: 4,068
Share of cases within type of ASC: 3.7 percent
Cardiology
Number of cases: 235
Share of cases within type of ASC: 7.2 percent
Single specialty
Number of cases: 51,990
Share of cases within type of ASC: 1.7 percent
Multispecialty
Number of cases: 38,562
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.2 percent
All ASCs
Number of cases: 90,552
Share of cases within type of ASC: 1.9 percent
2017
Gastroenterology and ophthalmology
Number of cases: 5,311
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.6 percent
Pain management
Number of cases: 7,266
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.4 percent
Urology
Number of cases: 4,814
Share of cases within type of ASC: 4.1 percent
Cardiology
Number of cases: 633
Share of cases within type of ASC: 7.9 percent
Single specialty
Number of cases: 55,132
Share of cases within type of ASC: 1.8 percent
Multispecialty
Number of cases: 43,582
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.4 percent
All ASCs
Number of cases: 98,714
Share of cases within type of ASC: 2.0 percent