Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has completed another hospital sale as it continues to look to its ASC arm, United Surgical Partners International, to drive growth. 

A former theater in San Francisco has been sold to an affiliate of several area medical professionals for $4.9 million, according to a Sept. 30 report from the San Francisco Business Times.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has completed the sale of its 70% ownership of five hospitals in Alabama, South Florida Hospital News reported Oct. 1. 

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners, a leading ASC operator, has caught the eye of investors amid consistent growth and rumors of potential buyouts, according to a recent analysis from Seeking Alpha. 

While still a largely independent field, consolidation is on the rise in the ASC industry, with a few major players building out substantial ASC chains. 

Provider credentialing is a critical yet often overlooked element to successful revenue cycle management (RCM). Across the healthcare industry, there is a lack of awareness about how an efficient, accurate credentialing system can streamline medical practices’ RCM workflows and assist in capturing revenue that may otherwise be lost or delayed. This is because the connection between the benefits of a credentialing platform and the RCM function is not always intuitive nor immediately clear, causing departments to be siloed. However, bridging the gap between credentialing and RCM functions is essential for preventing revenue loss, reimbursement delays, and other challenges — and ultimately aids in bolstering practice efficiency and financial stability.

Brentwood, Tenn.-based ASC operator Surgery Partners could be the next "hot takeover" of the market, MarketBeat reported Sept. 25. 

Santa Clara (Calif.) County's board of supervisors has unanimously approved the appropriation of $315 million to purchase a hospital from HCA Healthcare, one of the country's largest ASC operators. 

For years, healthcare has been a major area of focus for private-equity investment, driving strong trends of consolidation within the industry. But a recent market analysis report from Pitchbook shows that momentum in healthcare specialist funds may be slowing down.

Bellingham, Wash.-based Doherty Dermatology has been acquired by Frontier Dermatology.

Cardiology has the lowest percentage of physicians in private equity-affiliated practices when compared to gastroenterology and orthopedics, according to a recent study by Avalere and the American Independent Medical Practice Association. 

Physicians are concerned about the erosion of autonomy amid accelerating industry consolidation and migration to employed models. 

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare embarked on a new era five years ago by reducing its debt profile and redirecting focus to its ASC arm, United Surgical Partners International, CEO and Chair Saum Sutaria, MD, said. 

Optum is the parent company of Deerfield, Ill.-based ASC chain SCA Health, which has a portfolio of more than 320 ASCs and 9,200 physicians. 

The ASC industry is facing new forces in consolidation: large health systems and independent ASC groups with non-traditional business models.

Retail giant Amazon continues to expand into healthcare, emerging as a significant disruptor in the industry and a key player to watch.

A July 2023 study by RAND found that most physicians working in vertically integrated hospitals or health systems were 65% less likely to use ASCs for procedures, compared to physicians who were never a part of a vertically integrated system. 

Assembly bill 3129 was passed by the California Legislature in August, and would give the attorney general authority to review and approve or deny transactions between independent physician practices and private equity firms. 

A medical office building in North Smithfield, R.I., has sold for $1.95 million, according to a Sept. 18 report from Providence Business News.

Consolidation is on the rise across healthcare, and ASCs are no different. But how does consolidation impact the future and function of ASCs?