Gastroenterology is the backbone of the ASC industry, and the numbers behind it are getting harder to ignore.
Here are 10 numbers that capture where the specialty stands.
28.3%. Gastrointestinal procedures account for 28.3% of all Medicare ASC volume, making GI the dominant service line in the ASC space, according to a MedPAC report. Eight GI-related procedures, including colonoscopy with lesion removal, upper GI endoscopy with biopsy, and colonoscopy with biopsy, collectively account for that share.
19%. GI case volume increased 19% from 2023 to 2024, rising from an average of 349 cases per center to 416, according to HST Pathway’s ASC benchmarking data.
$2.8 billion. Cardinal Health acquired a majority stake in GI Alliance for $2.8 billion in late 2024, one of the largest gastroenterology transactions in recent history.
28%. The number of private equity-backed GI groups has grown 28% since 2021, with expansion accelerating in 2025, tudy published in Gastroenterology & Hepatology. About 1 in 10 U.S. gastroenterologists now works within a PE-backed group.
122. The number of Medicare-certified, single-specialty gastroenterology ASCs grew by 122 nationwide from 2018 to 2023, according to data from a 2025 Congressional status report on ASC growth.
40%. Colonoscopy with biopsy reimbursement has dropped 38% over 15 years, even as procedure volumes have grown significantly, according to The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Between 2007 and 2022, average GI reimbursement fell 33% when adjusted for inflation.
$805 vs. $1,371. The average Medicare payment for a colonoscopy with biopsy at an ASC is $805, compared with $1,371 at a hospital outpatient department, according to an April 2026 report by Paragon Health Institute, a 70% premium for the same procedure.
2.16%. The U.S. saw a 2.16% annual increase in early-onset GI cancer incidence from 2010 to 2019, with colorectal cancer making up 54.3% of all early-onset GI cancers diagnosed in 2022, according to a Dana-Farber report. The trend is driving sustained colonoscopy and endoscopy volume growth, particularly among patients under 50.
61%. Sixty-one percent of gastroenterologists say they feel their industry is fairly compensated in 2026, according to Medscape, even as demand for GI services hits record levels.
1,630. The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of 1,630 gastroenterologists, a gap expected to limit access to care as patient demand grows and screening guidelines continue to expand the eligible population.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.