The End of Inpatient-Only Services Creates an Ambulatory Planning Imperative

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) move toward site-neutrality and elimination of the IPO list creates an urgent need for systems to ensure their ambulatory strategy is aligned to the new financial reality.  Many systems will require a broader platform to be successful and must decide if building, buying, or partnering is the most effective path in each geographic area. By integrating traditional market analysis with emerging physician-level intelligence, leaders can determine where to invest, how to accelerate growth, and when to avoid high-risk markets. In this article, The Innova Group offers a practical roadmap for building an ambulatory portfolio that strengthens alignment, improves access, and supports long-term financial sustainability.