Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

Advancing Ambulatory Surgery

The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) assists ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in delivering safe, high-quality, cost-effective patient care.

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Latest News

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Senate Introduces the Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act

May 15, 2025

Benchmarking Q1 2025 Reports Now Available

May 15, 2025

Credentialing Virtual Course Part II Now On Demand

May 12, 2025

Capping Medicare Copay Fees for ASC Procedures

May 13, 2025

Education, Programs & Services

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Covnention Center

April 30–May 3, 2025

ASCA 2025 Conference & Expo

Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Denver, CO

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Webinar Series

Virtual Courses

Online Training Series

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ASC Administrator Development Program

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Clinical & Operational Benchmarking

2025 Q1 data submissions open

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Salary & Benefits

2025 data collection opens soon

Purchase Reports

ASC Focus Magazine

A members-only print and digital magazine for the ASC community

Digital edition sponsored by

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Finance & Accounting

HIPAA Workbook

Physician Brief

Benchmarking Basics

One World Surgery Partnership

ASCA members interested in medical mission opportunities are invited to apply for the ASCA Foundation’s scholarship program.

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Enhancing the Patient Experience

ASCA members work at the forefront of the healthcare community to advance the safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of outpatient surgery.

We know our community is making a difference and that's why we provide the resources, education and advocacy to support this mission.

No need to visit a hospital
Medicare-certified quality
Efficient procedure scheduling and performance
Drastically reduced patient copays

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Patients Pay Less in
Surgery Centers

ASCs see reimbursement rates per procedure that are roughly half that of hospital outpatient departments (HOPD). This lower cost is passed on to the patient in the form of lower coinsurance.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Cataract Removal

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Rotator Cuff Repair

HOPD

$

ASC

$

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2024 Procedure Price Lookup Comparison File, Carpal Tunnel Surgery (CPT® 64721), Cataract Removal (CPT® 66984), Rotator Cuff Repair (CPT® 29827)

Surgery Centers
by the Numbers

Medicare-certified ASCs

$ billion/year

Medicare program and beneficiary savings

million/year

Total procedures performed

million/year

Medicare procedures performed

%

Medicare cataract surgeries are performed in ASCs

%

Medicare colonoscopies are performed in ASCs

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary (PSPS) data, 2019 to 2021

Colleen Ramirez, RN, CASC

Chief Administration Officer

Bone and Joint Surgery Center of Novi

“ASCA provides its members with a true community that includes professional development and connectivity. As a member, I am provided with the knowledge and resources to stay on top of the latest trends, regulations and best practices for ASCs, all while gaining personal growth in my profession.”

ASCA Connect, a Community for Surgery Center Professionals

ASCA member conversations happening now

Formalin storage

Hello, At the ASCA conference in Denver, it was mentioned that you are not to store formalin in the OR's. I submitted a question to clarify, but due to time, it was not read. We currently store small containers of formalin (that we get from the lab ... Read more
OAS CAHPS

Hello, I am in need of some help. I am using Press Ganey and I am struggling to get help from them or my EMR's. Each company says that is not us that is them. I utilize Athena for my clinic EMR and ProVation for my Endoscopy Center EMR. Neither of ... Read more
Are we allowed to treat non-patients/family members of patients?

We recently had the family member of a patient in PACU pass out twice while sitting at the bedside. This was a 78 year old man. Staff helped him onto a gurney, hooked him up to a monitor and we called 911. He was alert and talking; his vitals were fine ... Read more
Surgical Cement & Pregnancy

Does anyone have any insight on how to handle surgical cement mixing and pregnancy? Do you have a policy or procedure on having the employee step away or scrubbing out of the OR during the mixing process? ------------------------------ Phaidra ... Read more