HARRISBURG, PA – An increase in ambulatory surgery centers in Pennsylvania is placing pressure on the state’s overall healthcare use and costs, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

Citing the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council’s (PHC4) report, "Financial Analysis 2008: An Annual Report on the Financial Health of Pennsylvania’s Non-GAC Facilities," HAP officials say there are 261 ambulatory surgery centers in the state, up from 245 a year ago, far exceeding the number of general acute care hospitals (170).

“With ASCs treating healthier – and usually better insured – patients, the financial strain and clinical demands on acute care hospitals, which serve as the safety net for all Pennsylvanians, are growing,” said HAP President and CEO Carolyn F. Scanlan.

According to HAP, ambulatory surgery centers have more than quadrupled in the past 10 years and their total profit margins have increased to more than 26 percent, yet acute care hospitals have averaged total margins of 4 percent or lower in 10 of the last 15 years. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, they averaged 0.38 percent statewide.

“It is imperative for policymakers in Harrisburg and Washington to understand the vital role played by acute care hospitals as the safety-net provider of high-quality care to all patients in communities of all sizes, and to assure that oversight of healthcare facilities affords the same quality and other protections regardless of setting or ownership,” said Scanlan.

HAP advocates for nearly 250 Pennsylvania acute and specialty care, primary care, sub-acute care, long-term care, home health and hospice providers.