Why pain management practices are doubling down on ASCs

Pain management’s next chapter with ASCs

Not too long ago, if someone said, “ambulatory surgery center,” most people thought of knees, hips, or cataracts. Fast, efficient, same-day procedures in a clean, streamlined space. But that’s changing as pain management steps into the spotlight.

Interventional pain care is evolving quickly. While orthopedic and ophthalmology groups have long benefited from the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) model, pain practices are now making their own mark. Across the country, more pain specialists are choosing to move procedures out of hospitals and into ASCs. Some are launching their own centers, while others are teaming up with surgical groups or private partners.¹ Regardless of the path, there’s momentum, and for good reason.

ASCs offer a unique mix of clinical efficiency, financial upside, and patient experience improvements that traditional care settings just can't match. For practices already navigating clinical complexity and tight margins, this shift offers more than convenience, it’s a chance to take back control.

Let’s unpack what’s behind this move and what it could mean for pain practices looking to grow, scale, or simply stay competitive.

The pain problem isn’t going anywhere

Chronic pain is everywhere. Around 51.6 million U.S. adults live with it² — that’s nearly 1 in 5 people across the nation. And with an aging population, the demand for pain management will only grow.

Among seniors, chronic pain prevalence is more pressing, with estimates indicating that more than half of adults over 65 experience persistent pain.³ Many are likely to seek treatment just to stay mobile and maintain their quality of life.

This helps explain the demand for pain management procedures, something traditional hospital outpatient departments haven’t always been equipped to handle efficiently.

ASCs, on the other hand, are.

Why more pain specialists are turning to ASCs

For pain clinicians, ASCs can feel like a natural extension of the clinic. While convenience is part of the appeal, the value runs deeper.

1. The clinical fit is obvious.

Many interventional pain procedures (nerve blocks, epidural injections, radiofrequency ablations) don’t require an overnight stay. They’re often minimally invasive, same-day procedures that align well with the kind of care ASCs typically provide. Patients benefit from streamlined prep and recovery times, while clinicians have a more controlled environment and shorter turnover times.⁴

2. Payers are pushing for lower-cost ASC settings.

ASCs can perform many of the same procedures as hospitals for 35% to 50% less.⁵ That cost difference hasn’t gone unnoticed. Payers are incentivizing outpatient care and value-based care (VBC) models are accelerating the shift.

3. Regulations are evolving.

CMS continues to approve more procedures for ASCs. And at the state level, reforms like the loosening of Certificate of Need (CON) requirements are lowering the barriers to entry and allowing more room to grow.

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What’s in it for pain practices?

Stepping into the ASC space isn’t solely about economics; it’s about gaining control over care delivery and creating systems that benefit both staff and patients. When practices manage their own surgical settings, they can tailor workflows, staffing, and scheduling to meet their specific needs.

Some of the biggest benefits include:

• Clinical control: Decide who’s in the room, how workflows run, and what equipment gets used.
• Revenue diversification: Facility fees and ancillary services can help buffer against unpredictable reimbursements.
• Stronger patient relationships: A smooth patient experience, from consultation to procedure to follow-up, can help keep patients loyal.

When the clinical and financial models align, practices spend less time fighting inefficiencies and more time on care, so patients feel the difference. It’s about building a system that works for everyone — clinicians, staff, and patients.

ASCs give pain practices more than efficiency; they offer stability and a better experience for both physicians and patients.

It’s not as simple as "build it and go"

Of course, launching or partnering with an ASC isn’t exactly plug-and-play. To get a surgery center off the ground, it isn’t only about finding space and equipment. It takes serious planning.

Administrative complexity is often underestimated with accreditation, payer contracting, and pre-authorizations all requiring an organized back office. On the tech side, your systems need to communicate across care settings. If your EHR, scheduling, and billing platforms don’t sync between the clinic and ASC, gaps form quickly.

Compliance is another factor that never sleeps. Federal, state, and accreditation requirements require constant attention and documentation.

It’s all manageable, but only with the right support and a clear strategy from day one.

Thinking about your ASC strategy? Start here

If you’re interested but not quite sure how to get there, here’s a practical way to assess readiness. Whether you’re building from scratch, joining a joint venture, working with an MSO, or partnering with investors, it pays to start with the fundamentals.

Start shaping a pain management ASC strategy by:

• Auditing procedures: What are you doing today that qualifies as ASC-compatible? Chances are, it’s probably most of them.
• Understanding payer dynamics: Not all plans treat ASC billing the same. How do local payers reimburse services?
• Choosing a structure: What kind of ASC model fits your practice’s size, structure, and goals? Each path has tradeoffs.
• Investing in readiness: Do your current systems support coordination between care settings? Staff training, clinical protocols, and integrated tech systems are key to making the transition easy.

Not every answer needs to be clear today. The goal is to understand where you are and map out where you want to go next.

Integration is the next big piece

As more interventional pain care moves outpatient, the ability to coordinate between the clinic and ASC settings will be make-or-break. Think improved referral workflows and synchronized billing and documentation.

This kind of connectivity is essential. If your systems don’t talk to each other, coordination breaks down and growth becomes harder to sustain. But when integrated technology connects the dots, you gain efficiency, reduce burnout, and enhance care.

That’s why, after 25 years of focusing on technology for ambulatory care, athenahealth is bringing our innovative solution to the ASC space to help close gaps for pain management groups.

What the future holds for pain and ASCs

ASCs offer pain management practices a unique opportunity to deliver more efficient care while building financial resilience and autonomy. They align clinical and business goals, improve margins, and provide a more convenient patient experience. All while giving practices more say in how care is delivered, scheduled, and staffed.

But the facility is only part of the equation. Success depends on how your team, processes, and technology come together.

With the right systems and partners in place, the ASC model is sustainable and strategic. For pain groups thinking about the next chapter, the question isn’t whether to explore the ASC model. It’s how.

Curious how you can scale without adding complexity? Let’s talk. Or get started with our ASC resources.