Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Todd Currier, Administrator at Bend Surgery Center
Host: Francesca Matthews
Date: August 18, 2025
Episode Focus: Trends, strategic growth, and advocacy in the ASC industry

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Todd Currier, CEO and Administrator of Bend Surgery Center in Bend, Oregon. Todd shares his insights on the most significant trends impacting ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), including mergers and acquisitions, case volume expansion, and technology adoption. The discussion also covers his approach to strategic growth, excitement about industry developments, and ongoing advocacy challenges, especially around reimbursement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Todd Currier’s Background and Role

• [00:22] Todd introduces his career path, starting as a CPA and becoming drawn to ambulatory surgery centers through one of his clients.
• Now, he leads a large, multi-specialty ASC with 8 operating rooms and 6 procedure rooms, handling about 12 different specialties and growing volumes.
  • Quote:
    “We truly multi specialty, do about 12 different specialties and have increasing volume as we've expanded over the last few years.” (Todd Currier, 00:29)

2. Top Trends in Healthcare & the ASC World

• Mergers and Acquisitions:
  Significant increase in hospitals, management companies, and independents acquiring or expanding ASCs.
  • Quote:
    “It's a growth market right now for ASCs. We're in a great trend right now.” (Todd Currier, 01:32)
• Increased Case Volume and Case Mix:
  Expansion of ASC allowable procedures due to proposed CMS rule changes, especially in orthopedics and cardiac procedures.
• Robotics & Technology:
  Surge in the adoption of robotics for more advanced cases and a focus on using technology for safe, efficient outpatient procedures.
  • Quote:
    “Looking at the types of cases that can be done within an ASC setting, you know, safely done and still, you know, patients be able to go home. Quality outcomes.” (Todd Currier, 01:56)

3. Strategic Growth Priorities for the Next 12 Months

• [02:58] Todd outlines strategic questions behind future growth:
  • Evaluating the impact of proposed CMS rules before expanding service lines.
  • Reviewing current case mix and exploring potential for growth.
  • Assessing the cost-benefit of investing in robotics.
  • Considering AI and new software to drive efficiency and operational performance.
  • Quote:
    “Do we look into robotics and, and start doing robotic cases at our center and what is the cost benefit of doing that?” (Todd Currier, 03:23)
    “Whether it's AI, whether it's software based, other software based systems that will increase our efficiencies, that those are areas that we're really looking at.” (Todd Currier, 03:41)

4. Industry Excitement & Advocacy

• [04:06] Todd shares optimism about the direction of the ASC industry and responsiveness from CMS in rulemaking.
  • He stresses the importance of ASCs as valuable community care providers.
• Reimbursement Concerns:
  Ongoing advocacy needed to address reimbursement disparities between ASCs and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), particularly due to the “secondary weight scalar.”
  • Quote:
    “We need to continue to advocate and lobby with, with CMS and our legislators that we need to get this corrected.” (Todd Currier, 04:59)
• Continued Engagement:
  Emphasizes that active involvement is key to advancing the ASC agenda and mitigating policy setbacks.
  • Quote:
    “It's imperative for all of us to remain active and continue to advocate for our industry and so that... we need to mitigate where those losses are so that we can continue to provide the high quality care we do every single day.” (Todd Currier, 05:29)

5. Closing Thoughts

• [05:57] Todd recognizes National ASC Month and expresses appreciation for participating in the podcast, reiterating his optimism for the industry’s future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On industry excitement and public policy:
  “I'm very excited about the direction and proposed rules that... we've seen some, some great leaps and bounds that were or being heard by CMS.” (Todd Currier, 04:09)
• On advocacy:
  “We have those wins and losses, but we need to mitigate where those losses are so that we can continue to provide the high quality care we do every single day.” (Todd Currier, 05:35)
• On National ASC Month:
  “August is national ASC Month, so I appreciate you having me on and look forward to positive impacts we have going into the future.” (Todd Currier, 06:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:22 – Todd Currier’s background and Bend Surgery Center overview
• 01:15 – Top 3 trends in the ASC industry
• 02:58 – Approaching strategic growth for the coming year
• 04:06 – Why Todd is optimistic about the future of ASCs
• 04:44 – Challenges in reimbursement and ongoing advocacy
• 05:57 – Closing remarks & National ASC Month recognition

Tone & Style

Todd speaks in a practical, optimistic, and advocacy-focused tone, emphasizing both the opportunities and the policy challenges facing ambulatory surgery centers today.