Cardiology continues to emerge as one of the fastest-growing service lines in the ASC space. CMS approvals, procedural migration and new outpatient heart centers are driving momentum — but operators still face reimbursement, staffing and regulatory barriers.
Here are five developments shaping cardiology ASCs in 2025:
1. CMS expansions bring more procedures outpatient: CMS’ latest rulemaking is paving the way for more complex cardiac procedures to move into ASCs. The 2025 coverage list includes additions for diagnostic caths and device implants, broadening the outpatient cardiology footprint. Industry leaders expect procedural migration to accelerate as payers follow CMS’ lead.
2. Outpatient cath labs take hold across markets: Standalone and Medicare-certified cardiac cath labs are opening across the country, including in states with certificate-of-need restrictions. These facilities highlight cardiology’s biggest opportunity in 2025: shifting routine and mid-acuity cases into lower-cost, more accessible settings.
3. Reimbursement struggles continue despite demand: Even as volume rises, cardiology ASCs remain squeezed by lagging reimbursement. Physicians warn that site-neutral payments and relief from Medicare cuts are essential to maintaining financial viability. Without adjustments, operators risk tight margins that undercut growth.
4. Staffing shortages complicate expansion: Recruiting and retaining specialized cardiac nurses, cath lab techs and electrophysiology staff is proving difficult. Physician shortages compound the challenge, forcing some groups to rethink recruitment pipelines and compensation structures to keep programs running.
5. New cardiology ASCs and outpatient centers debut: Across the U.S., health systems and physician groups are unveiling dedicated cardiology ASCs and outpatient heart centers in 2025. These facilities are equipped with cath labs and hybrid operating rooms, giving patients access to advanced procedures outside the hospital setting.
