SmartTRAK discusses the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) migration – a multi-billion-dollar redistribution of capital, the mandatory Ambulatory Services Model (ASM) and the companies best positioned to benefit in 2026 and beyond.
The US Spine Market is navigating a structural shift in the site of service, a regulatory-driven financial squeeze and the arrival of the mandatory Ambulatory Service Model (ASM) in spine care. This value-based model holds specialists financially accountable for the "total cost of care" for Medicare patients with low back pain (LBP). Shifting hospital-based procedures to the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is one of the most significant opportunities for healthcare savings, and it is especially important in 2026 for procedures such as lumbar fusion and total disc replacements (TDRs).
This downloadable article highlights the key catalysts SmartTRAK expects to shape the US Spine landscape in 2026 and beyond, including:
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Landmark Changes in CMS Reimbursement Accelerating Lumbar Procedures to the ASC - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the removal of 285 musculoskeletal codes from the Inpatient-Only (IPO) list as part of a three-year phase-out ending in 2028, intended to ... (read more)
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Companies Innovating To Capture ASC Share - Pure-play spine companies, like ATEC Spine (ATEC), and incumbents are tailoring ASC solutions—offering simplified, modular instrument sets and flexible financing for ... (read more)
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Endoscopy is Reaching the Mainstream - Advanced training and improved imaging have made endoscopic surgery a viable alternative to tubular minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for outpatient facilities. Endoscopic lumbar and cervical decompressions have ... (read more)
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Cost of Care Driving New Payment Models and Data Requirements - Industry needs to prepare for the new ASM. This mandatory value-based payment model could apply to nearly ... (read more)
As we look across the US Spine landscape in 2026, the narrative will be driven by efficiency over volume. For surgeons and device manufacturers alike, the winners of 2026 are those who can successfully operationalize innovation while simultaneously managing the margin pressure of new economic models.
Download and read the full “2026 US Spine Market Outlook: The Great Pivot in Spine Care” article by clicking the button below. In this in-depth analysis, SmartTRAK Sr. Analyst Kris Jacques examines the forces reshaping the US Spine Market.
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