Surgeon-owned ASCs are likely to become more prominent in the coming years due to the growth of the outpatient sector, physicians' desire to control the surgical environment and the potential to boost income.

The number of spinal fusions performed in ASCs is growing as more surgeons, patients and payers become comfortable with the procedure in the outpatient setting.

Franklin, Tenn.-based Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee added spinal fusion to its surgery center, which opened last year.

Downers Grove, Ill.-based DuPage Medical Group has opened an ASC dedicated to spine and orthopedic surgery.

Phoenix Spine & Joint will open its third and biggest surgery center in Gilbert, Ariz., in February, Phoenix Business Journal reports.

COVID-19 has accelerated the trend to outpatient spine surgery, according to Daniel Lieberman, MD, medical director of Phoenix Spine & Joint.

There are more than 160 ASCs in the U.S. performing minimally invasive spine surgery. Here are the 15 states with the most ASCs performing spine surgery: 

There are more than 170 ASCs that perform minimally invasive spine surgery.

Orthopedic spine surgeon Dwight Tyndall, MD, will become a partner at Chesterton, Ind.-based Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute in January, according to a December announcement.

 Patients undergoing Vertos Medical's minimally invasive lumbar spinal stenosis procedure will receive increased reimbursement under new CMS rules, according to a Dec. 8 news release.

Since the beginning of October, Becker's ASC Review has reported on two new and proposed spine surgery centers:

Fargo, N.D.-based Northern Neurosurgery & Spine is set to lease space in a $16 million medical facility with a surgery center in Duluth, Minn., according to the Duluth News Tribune.

CMS will use prior authorization to reduce unnecessary increases in the volume of covered outpatient spine services next year.

In October, Raymond Gardocki, MD, joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., where he will help develop the endoscopic spine surgery program.

Awake spinal fusion is a novel approach to spine surgery that fuses minimally invasive or endoscopic surgical techniques with contemporary anesthesia. 

Newark, Del.-based ChristianaCare and Newark-based Delaware Neurosurgical Group are contemplating developing a joint venture spine ASC for $4.8 million, the Delaware Business Times reported Oct. 28.

CMS released the 2021 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in August, which would reduce relative value unit conversion factor from $36.09 to $32.26.

San Antonio-based South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital opened its new outpatient surgery center in August.

Established as the market leader in the minimally invasive approach to sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion, SI-BONE, is now transitioning into a comprehensive sacropelvic solutions company.

David Vecchione, MD, treated his first spine patient at SOG Surgery Center in Tupelo, Miss.