The share of ASCs reporting adequate access to anesthesia providers has reached its highest level since 2022, according to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association’s third-quarter 2026 60-Second Survey, published Oct. 16.
Of the 307 surgery centers across 44 states that responded, 76% reported adequate access. That’s up from 70% in 2024, 64% in 2023 and 56% in 2022. Access varied by facility size. Among small ASCs with one or two operating or procedure rooms, 85% reported adequate access, compared with 70% of large ASCs with five or more rooms.
Limited availability of anesthesia providers (81%) and the high cost of those providers (66%) were the most commonly cited barriers. Respondents also named low reimbursement tied to a high share of government payers and competition with local hospitals. Among centers that reported difficulty keeping anesthesia providers, 75% said the problem affected procedure volume. That share is unchanged from 2024.