By Laura Dyrda
United Surgical Partners International Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Michael Stroup and Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America CEO Luke Lambert discuss the biggest trends in the ambulatory surgery center industry over the next five years.
1. Diversified ASCs are attractive. Multispecialty surgery centers can command a higher value because they are able to manage risk better in the volatile healthcare market. If a surgery center is dependent on one specialty, and reimbursement is cut for that specialty, the center is in trouble. “As a buyer, I’m willing to pay more for centers wit ha safer cash flow,” says Mr. Stroup. “A big part of that is diversification.”
2. Same-store growth is still lackluster. ASC companies used to have 3 percent to 5 percent or higher same store growth, but that has flattened out over the past few years. Now, Mr. Stroup says same store growth is coming back and companies are getting smarter about organic growth.
