The migration of hernia repair procedures from traditional inpatient hospital settings to ambulatory surgery centers is one of the most consequential structural shifts occurring within the US surgical care landscape in 2026, with implications for cost containment, patient experience, and market dynamics that are reshaping competitive positioning across device manufacturers, surgical facility operators, and payer organizations simultaneously. The US Hernia Repair Market is being profoundly influenced by the continued expansion of ambulatory surgery center infrastructure nationwide, as commercial payers and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services increasingly recognize outpatient hernia repair as clinically appropriate and cost-effective for the vast majority of patients without significant comorbidities. The financial incentives for performing hernia repairs in the ambulatory setting are compelling for both surgeons and facility operators, as reimbursement differentials between hospital outpatient departments and ASCs create meaningful revenue optimization opportunities for surgical practices that have invested in ASC partnerships or ownership.

Improved anesthetic techniques, enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, and advances in minimally invasive surgical technology have collectively made same-day discharge the norm rather than the exception for elective inguinal, umbilical, and small-to-medium ventral hernia repairs across the United States. Multimodal analgesia protocols that minimize opioid utilization are enabling patients to achieve adequate pain control at home without the complications associated with inpatient opioid administration, further supporting the safety and appropriateness of outpatient hernia repair pathways. Surgical training programs are increasingly incorporating ambulatory hernia repair into their curricula, ensuring that emerging general surgeons are comfortable with the faster-paced, efficiency-oriented workflows characteristic of high-volume ASC environments. Device manufacturers are responding to the ASC shift by developing procedure packs, standardized instrument sets, and streamlined mesh deployment systems that reduce setup time and support the throughput-focused operational model of ambulatory surgical facilities.

Will the continued expansion of ambulatory surgery centers ultimately displace hospital outpatient departments as the primary site of service for the majority of elective hernia repairs in the United States?

FAQ

• Why are ambulatory surgery centers becoming the preferred setting for hernia repair in the United States? ASCs offer lower costs, greater scheduling efficiency, improved patient experience, and equivalent clinical outcomes for appropriately selected hernia patients compared to hospital outpatient departments, driving payer and patient preference toward the ambulatory setting.
• How are enhanced recovery after surgery protocols supporting outpatient hernia repair? ERAS protocols incorporating multimodal analgesia, minimized opioid use, early mobilization, and optimized fluid management are enabling safe same-day discharge for the vast majority of elective hernia repair patients, reducing hospital resource utilization and improving patient satisfaction scores.

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