In its 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System final rule, CMS added AFib-treating cardiac catheter ablation procedures to its ASC-covered procedures list. This follows advocacy efforts from a range of stakeholders to enable ablation services in the fast-rising ASC setting.

ASCs continue to rise in popularity as an alternative to traditional inpatient care in hospital settings. They deliver same-day outpatient care as a potentially more convenient, cost-effective option. Companies in a range of spaces, such as orthopedics and surgical robotics, continue to target ASCs for their offerings.