Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1467576
88 TRANSACTIONS What's driving long- term ASC growth: MedPAC By Patsy Newitt T he total number of ASCs jumped 2 percent between 2019 and 2020, according to the March Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report. Here are six reasons for longterm ASC growth, according to MedPAC's report: 1. Technological and clinical practice advancements have migrated higher acuity procedures to the outpatient setting. 2. ASCs can offer a more convenient experience than hospital outpatient departments, such as shorter waiting times. 3. Patients typically pay less coinsurance in ASCs than HOPDs. 4. Physicians have greater autonomy in ASCs than HOPDs, which allows them to perform more procedures in the same amount of time, earning more revenue. 5. Physicians who invest and perform surgeries in ASCs can increase revenue by receiving ASC facility payments. 6. Increased interests in value-based and lower-cost care has increased investment in ASCs. n Top 10 physician groups in the news for mergers and acquisitions By Patsy Newitt B etween 2017 and January 2022, data company Definitive Healthcare recorded more than 4,100 merger and acquisition news stories. Here are physician groups in the news for merger and acquisition activity during that period, followed by the number of news stories: This data, gathered by Definitive Healthcare, is accurate as of January 2022. 1. Schweiger Dermatology Group (New York City): 11 2. Penn State Health Medical Group (Hershey, Pa.): 8 3. Concentra (Addison, Texas): 7 4. Pinnacle Dermatology (Brentwood, Tenn.): 6 5. TEAMHealth (Knoxville, Tenn.): 6 6. CORA Physical Therapy (Lima, Ohio): 5 7. Gastro Health (Miami): 5 8. St. Peter's Health Partners Medical Associates (Albany, N.Y.): 5 9. UPMC Pinnacle Physicians (Pittsburgh): 5 10. US Dermatology Partners (Dallas): 5 n $91M portfolio acquired with multiple ASCs By Marcus Robertson R emedy Medical Properties and Kayne Ander- son Real Estate added eight medical office buildings to their joint portfolio from medical software company Spruce Health, Commercial Property Executive reported April 11. The $91 million portfolio spans four states and to- tals 177,000 square feet, the report said. Five prop- erties are in Florida, with one each in Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee. Tenants include orthopedic, oncology and imaging practices, and ophthalmology and dermatology practices with ASCs, the report said. n ASC-focused real estate company's investment sales hit $312M+ in 2021 By Patsy Newitt H REA | Healthcare Real Estate Advisors advised on the sale of 27 healthcare real estate projects totaling $312 million in 2021, the company said March 5. The company, which focuses on medical office building, surgical hospital and ASC sales, cited an aging patient population and an increase in higher-acuity outpatient procedures with an increased investor demand. 2021 was a record year for healthcare real estate — with health- care real estate transactions surpassing $16 billion, a $4.3 billion increase from 2021, according to HREA. n