An analysis from researchers at the University of California-Berkeley Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare reported that ambulatory surgery centers saved Medicare $7.5 billion from 2008 to 2011, according to a news release from the ASCA.
"With policymakers looking for ways to shore up Medicare's finances and reduce healthcare spending nationwide, our analysis suggests ASCs offer a win-win for policymakers and patients," said Adjunct Professor Brent Fulton of the University of California at Berkeley. "Encouraging patients to seek the care they need in ASCs throughout the Medicare system should be an easy decision. Indeed, depending on the future policy environment, the savings generated by ASCs could exceed our $57.6 billion estimate [over the next decade]."
Around $6 billion of the $7.5 billion savings were realized by the federal Medicare program. The remaining $1.5 billion went directly to Medicare beneficiaries, according to the report. Medicare beneficiaries stand to save by choosing the ASC over the hospital outpatient department setting as well.
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