Penn Medicine, Independence Blue Cross, and Regent Surgical have announced what the parties call a “first-of-its-kind strategic partnership” designed to “rapidly expand access to high-quality outpatient surgical care” across the Philadelphia region. The partners state that they will collaborate through a yet-unnamed new company to “support the creation” of “at least” 18 ASCs.
The partners—a health system, an insurer, and an ASC management and development company, respectively—state that they are “uniquely positioned to expand patient access to high-quality surgical care in outpatient settings across the region,” which spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
“This partnership will help us meet growing demand for outpatient surgery while driving down the cost of care in our region and keeping Penn Medicine’s standards for clinical excellence at the center of every decision,” said Penn Medicine CEO Kevin B. Mahoney.
“The opportunity in front of healthcare isn’t simply to build more surgery centers. It’s to create the alignment required to move the right care to the right setting at scale,” stated Regent CEO Travis Messina. “Together, we have an opportunity to create a model that expands access, lowers costs and preserves hospital resources for the patients who need them most.”
The partners advised that “the actual timing, scope, and economic impact of future projects will depend on a variety of factors, including regulatory approvals, community needs, and market conditions.”
