Over the last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has aggressively expanded the list of procedures eligible for reimbursement in ambulatory surgery centers, far beyond the gradual additions of years past. This includes new orthopedics, endocrine, dental, and vascular access services—each accompanied by facility payment rates that make service line investment economically compelling.

A critical trend emerging in 2025 is CMS’s broader proposal to add hundreds of formerly inpatient-only procedures to the ASC Covered Procedures List (CPL). Under the CY 2026 proposed rule, thousands of codes historically restricted to inpatient settings are being reevaluated for outpatient and ASC eligibility.

The implications for individual centers are profound: rather than incremental code additions, many ASCs now face the opportunity to launch entire new surgical programs—from complex orthopedics to advanced endocrine or head and neck procedures—that were previously out of reach.

In a competitive landscape where facility revenue per case can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands depending on case complexity, even a modest uptick in newly approved CPT codes can result in six- to seven-figure annual revenue gains.

Centers that proactively invest in training, credentialing, and capital equipment in response to CPT expansion will be positioned to capture disproportionate market share in the upcoming decade.