More executives considering ASC joint ventures

Editor's Note

A survey of health system executives published January 4 by VMG Health finds that an increasing number are planning to expand into joint ventures with ambulatory surgery centers as they look to move more services from inpatient to outpatient facilities.

The survey included 141 health system executives, including CEOs, CFOs, COOs. Respondents ranked outpatient surgery as the top service line for joint venture partnerships in 2024, with 60 percent indicating they would consider a joint venture in this area. That category was followed by behavioral health (55%), outpatient post-acute (45%), outpatient imaging (45%), physician services (39%), and urgent care (36%).  Only 3% of health system executives would not consider a joint venture partnership in any service areas.

Evidence of the trend is already underway, the survey points out, citing Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Bon Secours Mercy Health System in Cincinnati, and OhioHealth among the health systems forming joint venture partnerships to acquire ASCs in 2023.