Ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient procedure use among Medicare beneficiaries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There has been a strong push to move outpatient surgery from hospital settings to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Despite the efficiency advantages of ASCs, many are concerned that these facilities could increase overall utilization.

Objective

To assess the impact of ASC opening on rates of outpatient surgery.

Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing outpatient surgery between 2001 and 2010. We compared population-based rates of outpatient surgery in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs) with freestanding ASCs to those without. After adjusting for differences using multiple propensity score methods, we assessed the impact of ASC opening in an HSA previously without one on rates of outpatient surgery.

Subjects

Patie

SUBMITTER: Hollenbeck BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163137 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature