Melissa Rice, Administrator at Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center and part of Trinity Health

Summary

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Becker’s Healthcare Podcast – Episode Summary

Guest: Melissa Rice, Administrator, Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center (Trinity Health)
Host: Chanel Bunger
Recorded: Live at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASC Conference, Chicago
Date: November 15, 2025
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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Episode Theme

This episode features Melissa Rice, a long-tenured ASC administrator, sharing her insights on current trends, technology integration, and collaborative opportunities that are shaping the future of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the U.S. She discusses the rapid growth in the ASC market, technology’s evolving role, and strategies for leaders to remain proactive and connected.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ASC Market Growth & Major Trends

(Starts at 01:16)

• Market Growth Drivers:
  • Major policy changes are fueling ASC expansion.
    • Notably, Medicare recently shifted 270 inpatient CPT codes to outpatient status, which Melissa identifies as a primary driver of ASC growth.
  • Payers, especially “the blues,” are incentivizing site-specific care, further pushing procedures towards ASC settings.
• Action Steps for Leaders:
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest industry communications (e.g., Becker's, ASCA).
  • Proactively review and renegotiate contracts for new CPT codes, including consideration of implant reimbursement.
  • Begin conversations early with all provider types—employed and independent—about upcoming trends and operational impacts.
• Quote:

  "Medicare dropped 270 of the inpatient CPT codes to move to outpatient. So I think that's one of the biggest drivers that is proving this growth." — Melissa Rice [01:37]

2. Technology Integration in the ASC Environment

(Starts at 02:41)

• AI & Robotic Surgeries:
  • AI is a topic of ongoing exploration, and its role is still developing.
  • Robotics are seen as promising but financially challenging due to high acquisition costs and restrictive contracts, making them riskier for standalone ASCs compared to centers that can share resources within a broader campus.
• EHR Advancements:
  • Significant attention on making charting less burdensome for clinicians.
  • EHR vendors are listening more to ASC leaders, prioritizing user-friendly designs to allow clinicians more time for direct patient care.
• Quote:

  "I think all the players out there are really listening to the leaders of the ASC stuff and kind of looking at how can we make this easier for our clinicians... really making sure that we can turn our care looking like direct patient care." — Melissa Rice [03:01]

3. Collaboration & Community Partnerships

(Starts at 03:57)

• Health systems and ASCs are increasingly joining forces via joint ventures.
• Inviting independent providers into system-based ASCs expands access and strengthens care networks.
• The overriding goal: broaden community access and improve patient experiences across urban, suburban, and rural locations.
• Quote:

  "If we're partnering with systems or healthcare, other providers, how do we broaden the access to our community? How... are we benefiting the patient... at the beginning?" — Melissa Rice [04:14]

4. Final Thoughts & Networking Advice

(Starts at 04:52)

• Melissa urges listeners to subscribe to Becker's newsletters and actively engage with state ASC associations for critical updates and advocacy.
• Quote:

  "Try to touch base with your state associations. I think they definitely partner well for, you know, ASCs and what's to come." — Melissa Rice [04:52]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On proactive leadership:

  "Start having the conversation with them now. Talk about the trends that are happening. Because once it starts in one state, we all know it's going to start coming to our state." — Melissa Rice [02:27]

• On technology’s value:

  "There's a lot of headwind coming, you know, to chart by specialties and, you know, making sure that we can, you know, have all the information that we need." — Melissa Rice [03:44]

• Closing advice:

  "Sign up for all the Becker newsletters because they give you all of the information that you need..." — Melissa Rice [04:52]

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 01:00 — Melissa introduces her background in ASC administration.
• 01:37 — Discussion of market growth, policy changes, and tips for preparation.
• 02:41 — The impact of AI, robotics, and EHR technology on ASC operations.
• 03:57 — Collaborations between health systems, providers, and ASCs to address access and efficiency.
• 04:52 — Final thoughts: Importance of staying informed and involved with industry associations.

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Tone & Takeaways

Melissa’s tone is pragmatic and collaborative, emphasizing the importance of staying ahead of trends, leveraging technology efficiently, and cultivating partnerships that expand access and improve patient care. The episode is packed with practical advice for ASC leaders and care teams navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

And welcome to the Beckers Healthcare Podcast. My name is Chanel Bunger and I'm recording live at the 31st Annual Business and Operations of ASC Conference in Chicago and currently sitting down with Melissa Rice, an administrator at Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center, a member of Trinity Health. Melissa, thank you so much for joining me today.

[C]

Thank you so much for having me.

[B]

Perfect. Well, to kick us off, can you share a bit about yourself and your work in the ASC space?

[C]

Yes. As you just said, I am a current administrator at Loyola Ambulatory Surgery center, which is a member of Trinity Health. I have been in the asc space for 15 plus years, always being an administrator or also helping out all of leadership. And I'm just, you know, very happy to be here.

[B]

Perfect. Thank you so much for that introduction. And now to get into it a bit, the ASC market in the US is projected to reach almost $61 billion by 2030 and continues to experience strong year over year growth. I'd like to hear from your perspective, what are the most significant trends in market forces driving this expansion and how should ASC leaders be preparing today?

[C]

Yeah, so as most people are aware, you know, Medicare dropped 270 of the inpatient CPT codes to move to outpatient. So I think that's one of the biggest drivers that is proving this growth, I think. So a lot of the big payers, specifically the blues, are looking at site of care specifics. So therefore they're saying that, you know, we're not going to pay for these CPT codes in a main hospital or HOPD perspective and they want to do it in asc. So I think we're going to continue to see that happening as, you know, more of these cases become ASC specific. I think what ASC leaders should be preparing for today is watch those watch, you know, watch what Beckers puts out, watch what ASCA puts out and you know, start to get ahead of the game, start looking at your contracts to see if these specific codes are something, one, that are covered, two, can you get it covered? And three, if there's implants or anything like that that you can start negotiating today, start reaching out to your providers, whether they're, you work for an employed system like I do or you do have the capability to bring in independent providers, start having that conversation with them now. Talk about the trends that are happening. Because once it starts in one state, we all know it's going to start coming to our state.

[B]

Absolutely. And now kind of getting into technology a bit. From AI and robotic surgeries to advanced EHR systems, technology remains both a make or break factor and a critical driver of ASC operations at scale. And how do you see deeper tech integration shaping the way ASCs deliver care and manage their businesses over the next few years?

[C]

I think AI is, you know, something that we're still looking at, you know, talking about. I know there's been some great things that Beckers has brought to this conference regarding that, so I'm excited to hear more from my colleagues. Robotic surgeries is a hot topic. 1. A lot of the robotics do come with a heavy dollar amount or some locked and contracted rates, so I think a lot of people are a little nervous to bring that into their center, especially if it's not connected to a campus where you can share it. Advance of EHR systems. I think all the players out there are really listening to the leaders of the ASC stuff and kind of looking at how can we make this easier for our clinicians to stop having to do the mundane process of charting, whether it be paper or an EHR system, and really making sure that we can turn our care looking like direct patient care. So I think there's a lot of headwind coming, you know, to chart by, you know, specialties and, you know, making sure that we can, you know, have all the information that we need.

[B]

Got it, got it. And kind of switching gears a bit here. With 60% of health systems considering ASC joint ventures and many ASCs already partnering with systems in their communities, what opportunities do you see for collaboration, whether with providers or vendors, to strengthen patient care and operational efficiency?

[C]

You know, I work for a healthcare system, so, you know, I'm already a part of, you know, that type of situation. But we do look to have independent providers come to our center and be a part of the amazing network that we're in. I think, you know, what we can do is if we're partnering with systems or health care, other providers, is how do we broaden the access to our community? How do we, how do we have outreach in all the different locations, whether it be city or urban or rural, you know, how are we benefiting the patient, you know, you know, at the beginning?

[B]

Absolutely. Well, Melissa, I want to thank you for your time today. But before I let you go, is there anything we didn't touch on or any final thoughts you'd like to share?

[C]

If you're listening to this, make sure that you do sign up for all the Becker newsletters because they give you all of the information that you need and also deep in, you know, try to touch base with your state associations. I think they definitely partner well for, you know, ASCs and what's to come.

[B]

Love the shout out. Well, Melissa, I want to thank you once again for your time today for sharing your insights on the Beckers healthcare podcast.

[C]

Thank you so much for having me.