Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International and SCA Health are two of the largest ASC chains, with more than 475 and 320 ASCs, respectively.
Here's what the two companies have been up to in 2023 so far:
USPI:
1. USPI added three ASCs in the first quarter and completed two post-transaction buy-ups.
2. The company is seeing physicians coming to USPI "wanting to initiate their first orthopedics de novo work in our centers either through new center development or joining existing centers," CEO Saum Sutaria, MD, said in a first quarter earnings call, indicating demand for ASC-based orthopedics.
3. Tenet Healthcare, parent company of USPI, will pump $250 million into ASC mergers and acquisitions, the company said Feb. 9 during its fourth-quarter earnings call.
4. USPI announced President and CEO Brett Brodnax will retire at the end of 2023, after which Andy Johnston will step into both roles.
5. As of this year, USPI's $1.2 billion acquisition of SurgCenter Development is still in process, but progress is slow.
6. In February, United Surgical Partners International expanded its partnership with Renton, Wash.-based Providence to develop additional ASCs.
7. In the first quarter, the company saw 7.8 percent growth in same-facility volume, which is attributed to higher acuity service line expansion and growth in the company's physician population.
8. Tenet added Stephen Rusckowski to its board of directors.
SCA Health
1. Optum, parent company of SCA Health, has been focused on physician group acquisitions in 2023. In June, Optum agreed to merge with Amedisys, a home health and hospice provider, in a $3.3 billion deal.
2. OptumHealth's network of providers and surgery centers is seeing strong outpatient surgery volumes, especially for hips, knees and senior services, executives said at a session at the Goldman Sachs 44th Annual Global Healthcare Conference June 12-15.
3. SCA Health's former CEO, Caitlin Zulla, was promoted to CEO of Optum Health's east region.
4. In April, Optum acquired Middletown, N.Y.-based multispecialty group Crystal Run Healthcare.
5. Optum Health affiliate Everett Clinic opened a 39,500-square-foot facility with 50 exam rooms and an ASC in Arlington, Wash.
6. Optum added hospice and homecare specialty group LHC Group in a $5.4 billion deal.
7. Optum partnered with Northern Light Health in Brewer, Maine, and Owensboro (Ky.) Health to take over administrative functions.