April 15, 2020 / Written by Staff
There are more than 250 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the U.S. where surgeons perform total joint replacements, and that number is expected to grow due to regulator updates and a focus on value-based care.
In 2020, CMS will pay for total knee replacements in ASCs for the first time, opening up the possibility for an entirely new patient population to undergo surgery at an ASC. The agency has also removed total hip replacement from the inpatient-only list, allowing surgeons to perform them in hospital outpatient departments. Total joint replacement patients who are good candidates for the outpatient setting are now able to seek care in ASCs, which provide a high-quality, low-cost option for orthopedic care. Additionally, as the healthcare system moves toward value-based care, the volume of outpatient total joints is expected to skyrocket, driving even more total joint traffic into the ASC. 