Ambulatory Center Surgeries Not Always Cheaper, WCRI Finds

Knee and shoulder surgeries usually cost less at ambulatory surgery centers compared to hospital outpatient departments, but there are exceptions in some states, according to a new report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The WCRI report looks at payments to ASCs and hospital outpatient departments for knee and shoulder arthroscopies in 18 states. In 14 states, payments for knee surgeries performed at ASCs were at least 21% lower than payments for hospital outpatient surgeries in 2016. In three states, the payments were similar, and in Indiana, payments for ASC surgeries wer...