A migration to the ASC setting has benefits for patients, physicians and payers. Patients often get to return home faster, allowing them to recover in their own space. Payers save an estimated 45-60% compared to hospital surgeries, according to a March 6 press release.
The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that savings would total $15 billion for taxpayers and $3 billion for Medicare patients if all qualifying surgeries were performed at ASCs.
Some states are seeing a more rapid expansion of outpatient spinal surgeries than others. Some factors causing the disparity include state regulations, reimbursement rates and provider preferences.
The three states that have seen the highest outpatient spinal surgery growth rates are Connecticut, Indiana and North Carolina.
In contrast, the three states with the lowest growth rates are Massachusetts, Kentucky and South Carolina, which all fall below the national average.
