In an Oct. 1 opinion piece published on Medpage Today's physician-led blog, KevinMD.com, Shakeel Ahmed, MD, CEO of St. Louis-based Atlas Surgical Group, argues for the economic benefits of choosing ASCs for surgical procedures over hospitals.
"One of the most glaring aspects of financial waste is the dreaded facility fee for surgery. The monopoly of large health care systems worldwide has led to this perfect storm of mega-high surgical costs and lack of accountability," Dr. Ahmed writes.
Dr. Ahmed argues that while hospitals' bottom lines inconsistently "zigzag" around new technological realities, ASC bottom lines present a more financially efficient and adaptable reality.
"[A]n ASC’s bottom line was set at the bottom during the architectural and construction phase; it is streamlined not only for growth but also for adapting to changes in technology. It’s a simple concept … the savings are built in," Dr. Ahmed writes. "When the physical plan of a hospital is constantly blindsided, the expense is a surprise too, with trickle-down ramifications throughout the entire facility. And it’s a startling realization when costs at an ASC come in at half the cost of those at a hospital."
For example, during 2019-2020, colonoscopies cost an average 54.9% more in HOPDs than in ASCs, according to data from The American Journal of Managed Care. In addition, Dr. Ahmed contends that patient deductibles and copays are 75% less at ASCs than in HOPDs. He also notes that the convenience of an ASC is another major "pull factor" embedded into the design of ASCs.
He writes that ASCs are also beneficial for the physicians who work in them, noting that scheduling is more flexible and ASCs more readily reduce procedure backlog, cutting down on long wait times for patients. Potential ownership stake is another highlight of ASCs for physicians, Dr. Ahmed notes.
"The patient, the physician and the nation as a whole benefit financially. The support staff and clerical workers benefit by the fulfillment of being able to do their work efficiently and well, with tangible results seen one patient at a time by the end of each day," he said.