Here are six ASC company executives discussing the strategic goals for their company over the next six months and beyond, based on second quarter financial report statements and conference calls.
Their strategy includes payer partnerships, aggressive pursuit of new in-network contracts, adding more total joint replacements and the potential for acquisitions in the future.
Note: The executives are listed in alphabetical order.
Wayne DeVeydt, Director and CEO of Surgery Partners: "[We may engage in] what I would call is a very innovative kind of outside-the-box new partnering, and that's where we explore opportunities with payers to actually co-invest in some of these ASCs and the opportunities we see there, to not only participate in the value chain of ASCs but be actually incented to really take advantage of the quality metrics that we have in these facilities in a low-cost environment, actually move more of their membership to an in-network but high-volume concentration, and I would tell you we have a couple of those discussions underway right now. I don't want to get over our skis on those, because large carriers can move sometimes slow in this process, but that being said, I'm hopeful we'll have at least one of those inked by the end of the year, which will be a real proof point as we move out with large carriers around the art of the possible."
Harry Fleminig, CEO of Nobilis: "While our first priority is to focus on managing existing business for performance, we continue to pursue various M&A opportunities, given that they meet certain criteria, such as providing additional in-network revenues and that the operation must be already profitable."
Andrew Hayek, CEO of OptumHealth: "From an SCA standpoint, we have been seeing a continued growth in total joint replacement procedures in commercial space. We are beginning to see that happen with needs from a Medicare standpoint, in terms of physicians preparing to shift those cases."
Christopher Holden, CEO of Envision (AmSurg): "Our organization remains committed to our Patient First initiative, which was launched earlier this year and builds on the leadership position we have established to move the overwhelming majority of our services to in-network status and by supporting the critical safety net services delivered to patients by our facility-based providers and health system partners across the country."
R. Milton Johnson, CEO of HCA: "We're pleased with our ASC operations today. We have been selectively adding to the number of ASCs we operate. We will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to add outpatient services, especially ASCs in our business."
Ronald Rittenmeyer, CEO and Executive Chairman of Tenet, speaking on United Surgical Partners International: "Year-to-date, USPI has deployed $120 million on acquisitions. And importantly, our pipeline for both acquisitions and de novo development remains very strong, and we think it's likely we will exceed the $100 million to $150 million target for acquisitions and de novos this year. And frankly, we're happy to do it given the great returns in this business."