Starting in January, Medicare will make the most extensive changes in payment for ambulatory surgery facility services since the inception of the program. Under regulations released last month from the CMS, Medicare will pay ASCs in virtually the same method - though not at the same amounts - that it pays hospital outpatient departments. A primary goal of these changes is to lead physicians and patients to determine the best site of service for surgical services based on safety and quality of the care rather than on the reimbursement or co-payment. It's expected that, over time, there will be a substantial relocation of services among ASCs, HOPDs and physicians' offices. Here, we break down 10 key components of the new system.