Sweeping new Medicare regulations that take effect in January will replace the nine ASC payment groups with hundreds of Ambulatory Payment Classification groups. In addition to the new APC groups, the Medicare reimbursement policies - such as covered procedures, multiple procedure discounting and implant reimbursement - will also change. You may have to undergo a significant transformation in the way you operate if you expect to operate successfully under the APC system. This article, the first in a three-part series, will analyze the impact APCs will have on your surgery center.