Rising Payer Denials and Delays Challenge ASC Revenue Cycles

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly encountering payer strategies that delay, deny, or reduce reimbursements, putting significant strain on their operational and financial workflows. Common tactics include denial of claims related to new devices and pharmaceuticals used in preoperative and operating room procedures, often citing contract carve-outs or exceptions that ASCs dispute. ASC leaders report active efforts to renegotiate payer contracts with an aim to clarify reimbursement terms, reduce carve-outs, and align payer reimbursements with Medicare standards, especially in the context of evolving Medicare Advantage plan dynamics.