DNV Disrupts ASC Market with New CMS-Approved Accreditation Program

HOUSTON, TX – December 10, 2025 – The competitive landscape for healthcare accreditation was redrawn today as DNV received official approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its new Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) Accreditation Program. This decision grants DNV "deeming authority," immediately positioning it as a significant new competitor in one of healthcare's fastest-growing sectors and offering ASCs an alternative path to demonstrating quality and securing federal reimbursement.

The approval is more than a procedural milestone; it represents a strategic entry into a market defined by rapid expansion and intense competition. For years, ASCs have sought accreditation from established bodies like The Joint Commission (TJC), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), and others. DNV's arrival introduces a distinctly different philosophy, one that has already made waves in the hospital sector and now promises to reshape the standards for outpatient surgical care.

A New Philosophy for Accreditation

Since entering the U.S. hospital market in 2008, DNV has become the fastest-growing accrediting body for acute care facilities by challenging the traditional, episodic inspection model. The company now brings that same disruptive approach to the ASC domain. At the core of its NIAHO® ASC Accreditation Program is the integration of ISO 9001 quality management principles—a framework globally recognized in manufacturing and service industries but unique to DNV within U.S. healthcare accreditation.

Unlike the high-stakes, multi-day surveys conducted every few years by legacy accreditors, DNV’s model is built on annual, collaborative assessments. This approach is designed to foster a culture of continuous improvement rather than a frantic scramble for periodic compliance. By engaging with facilities every year, the process aims to help staff identify and embed best practices into daily operations, turning the accreditation process from a dreaded audit into an ongoing partnership for quality enhancement.

This value-driven model emphasizes operational alignment and year-round readiness, a stark contrast to the more punitive perceptions often associated with traditional accreditation surveys. For ASCs, which operate as lean, efficient, and highly specialized businesses, this collaborative approach may prove particularly appealing. It promises a framework for building sustainable systems that reduce risk, streamline operations, and enhance patient safety without the disruptive stop-and-start cycle of preparing for a major inspection.

Tapping into the Outpatient Revolution

DNV's timing is impeccable. Ambulatory surgery centers are at the forefront of a systemic shift in healthcare delivery, moving a vast number of procedures out of costly hospital environments. ASCs offer a compelling value proposition: shorter wait times, lower costs, faster scheduling, and a reduced risk of healthcare-associated infections. They are critical to alleviating the strain on overburdened hospitals and expanding patient access to routine surgical care, from orthopedics to ophthalmology.

The CMS "deeming authority" is the critical key that unlocks this market for DNV. This approval certifies that DNV's standards meet or exceed Medicare's own Conditions for Coverage. As a result, ASCs accredited by DNV are automatically eligible to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. This is a non-negotiable requirement for the vast majority of centers, and it also signals a high standard of quality to private insurers and commercial carriers, making DNV a fully viable choice for ASCs nationwide.

"Ambulatory surgery centers are transforming healthcare delivery not just in the United States, but around the world," noted Geir Fuglerud, CEO of Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV, in the company's announcement. He highlighted that the model is designed to support this evolution by helping ASCs "deliver safer patient care, improve medical outcomes and meet the expectations of modern healthcare systems."

Beyond Compliance to Operational Excellence

For ASC operators, the choice of an accreditor is a major strategic decision. DNV's pitch is that it offers more than a seal of approval; it offers a pathway to operational excellence. The integration of ISO 9001 standards encourages a systematic approach to quality management that focuses on proactive risk management, patient-centered processes, and data-driven decision-making.

"Our NIAHO® accreditation has been a real success in hospitals of all sizes and kinds, creating a more empathetic and value-driven accreditation model in healthcare," added Alex Imperial, VP & Regional Manager for DNV. "We are proud to bring that same spirit of cooperation and continuous improvement to the ASC domain."

The program's design acknowledges the diversity within the ASC market. It is built to be scalable and adaptable, accommodating single-specialty and multi-specialty centers, as well as facilities with varying payer mixes, from those reliant on federal programs to those operating on a private insurance or cash-pay basis. This flexibility is crucial for a sector characterized by innovative and diverse business models.

Furthermore, DNV offers a suite of specialty-focused certifications in areas like orthopedic and spine care, as well as infection prevention and sterile processing. This provides a clear growth path for accredited ASCs to further distinguish themselves as Centers of Excellence, a powerful marketing tool in a competitive environment. By bundling accreditation with specialized training and certifications, DNV is creating an ecosystem designed to support an ASC's entire quality journey, from foundational compliance to market-leading performance.

As DNV steps onto this new stage, ASC owners and administrators now face a compelling new choice. The decision will no longer be just about which accreditor to choose, but what philosophy of quality they wish to embrace. DNV is betting that a growing number of centers will opt for a continuous, collaborative partnership over a periodic, high-pressure test, a move that could fundamentally elevate the standards of care across the entire outpatient surgery landscape.