National healthcare expenditures in the U.S. hit $5.2 trillion in 2024, growing faster than the economy, with physician and clinical services—closely linked to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)—crossing $1 trillion for the first time. This trend is expected to continue, driven by an aging Medicare population and rising outpatient demand.
Medicare spending is projected to grow faster than Medicaid and commercial payers, presenting both opportunity and complexity for ASCs, especially amid growing Medicare Advantage enrollment. Meanwhile, hospital care remains the top expenditure category, but CMS is pushing for more procedures to shift to lower-cost outpatient settings—further favoring ASCs.