Analyzing outpatient surgery emerging trends as ASC market growth expected at $130B by 2031

Editor's Note

With the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) market projected to reach $130.6 billion by 2031—a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%—ASC leaders pointed Becker’s ASC Review to key trends and opportunities fueling this growth.

Outpatient care continues to expand across various specialties, and several factors are driving this shift, Becker’s November 22 reports. Joint replacements and spine surgeries, once exclusive to hospitals, are increasingly being performed in ASCs. One expert highlighted the untapped potential in some markets where joint replacements still occur primarily in hospital settings. Similarly, spine procedures are transitioning as ASCs perfect patient selection, care delivery, and cost management.

Cardiology is another growing area, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other payers approve more cardiac procedures for ASC settings. However, this transition is slower than anticipated, with hospitals reluctant to concede these revenue-driving procedures. One expert said for systems embracing this shift, joint ventures with physicians and ASC ownership models are emerging strategies to capture revenue and share resources.

Shifting site-of-service trends are also significant. Procedures traditionally performed in hospitals are moving to ASCs due to cost efficiency and consumer preference. This trend aligns with employer-directed healthcare initiatives, where self-funded employers design benefit plans that favor ASCs to reduce healthcare costs. Additionally, patients increasingly value the convenience and satisfaction of outpatient care, particularly as insurance coverage expands to include more procedures.

Private equity involvement in ASCs is rapidly accelerating, especially in non-certificate-of-need states. These investments aim to capitalize on the growing potential for procedures like orthopedics and cardiology to shift to outpatient settings, creating new revenue opportunities for ASC ownership and management.

Innovation is shaping ASC operations as well. Leaders foresee growth in same-day procedures like endoscopic back surgeries and total shoulder replacements, driven by cost savings and patient demand. Advancements in artificial intelligence technologies are also expected to enhance efficiency and patient care.

Operational challenges, however, persist. Declining reimbursement rates and anesthesia provider shortages require creative solutions, a more recent Becker's article reports. Some ASCs are implementing financial penalties for underused operating blocks, while others adopt flexible call schedules or prioritize communication between surgical teams to optimize workflows.