According to a new report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Counsel (also known as PHC4), 19 new ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) opened up in Pennsylvania in the past year. This bring the total number of ASCs in Pennsylvania to 262. According to the report, ASCs generally remain profitable.
Although growth of ASCs means more independence for physicians and more choices for patients, acute care hospitals in the state are likely not thrilled with this news. Undoubtedly lobbying pressure to stem the growth of outpatient centers will continue, so physicians who are considering investing in or developing an ASC should move quickly before Certificate of Need or other regulatory hurdles are put in place.