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September 10, 2025

Immediate Procedure Reimbursement, 30-Day and 90-Day Episode Payments are Lower in Ambulatory Surgery Centers Versus Hospital Outpatient Departments for Lumbar Laminectomy

Puntos clave

Immediate procedure reimbursement for lumbar laminectomies was significantly lower in ASCs compared to HOPDs by $2492 for single-level and $5629 for multilevel procedures.
Overall payments were lower in ASCs during both the 30-day (average reduction of $4354 for single-level) and 90-day (average reduction of $3757) periods following surgery.
Surgeon reimbursement for single-level procedures was higher in ASCs at $911, indicating financial differences in reimbursement structures across settings.
This study emphasizes the potential financial benefits of conducting lumbar laminectomies in ASCs over HOPDs, potentially leading to cost savings for commercially insured patients.

Resumen

Retrospective cohort study. The primary objective was to compare the immediate procedure reimbursement between ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) for single-level and multilevel lumbar laminectomies in commercially insured patients. The secondary objectives were to compare (1) patient out-of-pocket expenditures and surgeon-specific reimbursement and (2) 30-day and 90-day episode payments between the surgery settings. Lumbar laminectomy is a common treatment for lumbar spine pathology, with cases increasing annually in outpatient settings. However, there is no clear consensus on financial savings related to ASCs versus HOPDs for these procedures. The Merative MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database identified lumbar laminectomies performed at an ASC or HOPD in patients aged 18-64. Immediate procedure reimbursement, surgeon reimbursement, and 30-day and 90-day payments were constructed from gross payments; corresponding patient out-of-pocket expenditures were extracted. Multivariable regression models estimated adjusted between-setting mean differences and 95% confidence intervals. After matching, the single-level cohort included 699 patients (36. 9% ASCs), and the multilevel cohort included 694 patients (36. 0% ASCs). In multivariable models, the adjusted mean of immediate procedure reimbursement was lower for ASCs (single-level: -2492, P=0. 001; multilevel: -5629, P<0. 001). Surgeon reimbursement was higher for single-level procedures in ASCs (911, P<0. 001). Payments were lower for ASCs in the 30-day period (single-level: -4354, P<0. 001; multilevel: -7781, P<0. 001) and 90-day period (single-level: -3757, P<0. 001; multilevel: -8465, P<0. 001). Immediate procedure reimbursement, 30-day and 90-day payments were lower for ASCs versus HOPDs. Surgeon reimbursement was higher in ASCs for single-level while no difference was observed for multilevel procedures. These findings highlight the potential for savings from performing lumbar laminectomies in ASCs versus HOPDs for commercially insured patients. Level III.

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