From procedure migration to financial pressures, two ASC leaders joined Becker’s to discuss the forces reshaping the ASC landscape.
Question: What emerging disruptors do you see having the biggest impact on the ASC sector over the next five years?
Editor’s note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and length.
Gregg Florentin. CEO of Tri-City Cardiology (Mesa, Ariz.): The migration of procedures like PCI, electrophysiology studies and device implants into ASCs is accelerating. This is driven by improved safety profiles, payer alignment and patient preference. We must be ready to scale our infrastructure and clinical protocols to support this shift without compromising outcomes. Federal and commercial payers are expanding coverage for outpatient cardiac procedures. CMS continues to add CPT codes to the ASC-approved list, and Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly receptive to site-of-service optimization. This is a strategic opportunity to expand our cardiac footprint while improving cost efficiency.
Tricia Wollam. Administrator of Alliance Surgery Center (Traverse City, Mich.): One of the biggest disruptors is margin compression with the rising cost of labor and supplies. Even with increased case volume, the reimbursement continues to decrease and the cost of implants keeps rising. It is necessary to be assessing these cost pressure points to maintain the margin.
