Free-standing surgery centers, or Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), are used as an alternative to hospital outpatient departments. According to Medicare regulations, ASCs may be associated with a hospital, but may not be administratively or financially linked to the hospital, and patients who undergo procedures in the ASC may not be registered in the hospital.

• Medicare covers a number of procedures in the ASC. The procedures are assigned to one of nine groups, each of which is paid at a prospectively set rate.
• The ASC facility payment for all procedures in each group is established at a single rate, adjusted for geographic variation. The rate is a standard overhead amount that covers the cost of services such as nursing, supplies used, and costs of the facility and equipment.
• Medicare pays 80% of the ASC rate, with the patient responsible for the remaining 20%.

The following information may help provide a context for ASCs engaged in the coding and payment process for the IDET^◊ procedure: