Matthew Searles, MBA, is a partner with Merritt Healthcare Advisors, an ASC management and development firm that works with centers nationwide.
Mr. Searles will share his expertise as a speaker at the Becker's ASC 27th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 21 - 23, 2021 in Chicago. To learn more and register, click here.
Question: What are the most important trends you're seeing in the ASC field today?
Matthew Searles: Consolidation, continued margin compression and movement of higher acuity cases to ASCs.
Q: What are the key challenges keeping ASC administrators up at night?
MS: Reimbursement increases don’t keep pace with cost increases. Also, increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.
Q: What are the top one or two solutions to the big challenges you're seeing for ASCs today?
MS: Movement of higher acuity cases to ASCs. Economies of scale with consolidation and alignment with other providers.
Q: What are some of the smartest moves ASCs made during the COVID-19 pandemic to set themselves up for future success?
MS: Staying nimble and opening the doors to surgeons and cases that were not able to access hospitals. COVID provided a platform to highlight the cost effectiveness and quality of ASC services.
Q: Where is the best opportunity for ASCs to thrive in the future? What do they need to do today to set a solid foundation for success?
MS: Stay nimble, move to higher acuity cases and be ready for a shift of low acuity cases to offices.
Q: How will private equity investment change the physician practice and ASC field?
MS: PE will accelerate consolidation of a very fragmented industry.
Q: Do you see a place for solo and small group practitioners and centers, or is there more consolidation in the ASC field on the horizon?
MS: It seems unlikely to me that solo and small group practitioners will be able to compete in an environment that encourages and incents scale.
To learn more about Merritt Healthcare Advisors, click here.