Healthcare Investors Bet Big on Outpatient Care in 2026

From new ASC builds to joint venture partnerships, the shift toward ambulatory care settings continues.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Outpatient care remains one of healthcare's hottest investment targets in 2026, with major players like Tenet Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, and Sutter Health making multimillion-dollar investments in new ASCs, outpatient facilities, and joint ventures.

Why it matters

The significant investments in outpatient care reflect the ongoing shift in healthcare delivery toward more cost-effective and convenient ambulatory settings, driven by factors like patient preferences, value-based care models, and the need to alleviate pressure on hospital systems.

The details

Some of the largest investments in the ASC space so far in 2026 include a $50 million project by ORA Orthopedic in Iowa, nearly $350 million in investments by Tenet Healthcare's United Surgical Partners International, a $12 million outpatient endoscopy center by Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, and a joint venture between Kaiser Permanente and Renown Health to operate a health plan and outpatient system in Nevada. Other notable investments include a $60 million Series A funding round for the cardiology data platform Chamber, and a $16 million ambulatory center by Christ Hospital Health Network in Kentucky.

  • In 2025, Tenet Healthcare's United Surgical Partners International added 35 facilities to its ambulatory portfolio.
  • In early 2026, Bettendorf, Iowa-based ORA Orthopedic cut the ribbon on a $50 million, 113,000-square-foot medical facility and administrative headquarters.

The players

Tenet Healthcare

A major healthcare company that owns the ASC chain United Surgical Partners International, which invested nearly $350 million and added 35 facilities to its ambulatory portfolio in 2025.

Kaiser Permanente

A large integrated healthcare provider that finalized a joint venture with Renown Health to operate a health plan and outpatient care delivery system in northern Nevada.

Sutter Health

A not-for-profit health system that broke ground on a $380 million Advanced Cancer Center and Care Complex in Modesto, California.

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The takeaway

The significant investments in outpatient care settings like ASCs and joint ventures reflect the healthcare industry's continued confidence in the shift toward more cost-effective and convenient ambulatory care models, driven by factors like patient preferences, value-based care, and the need to alleviate pressure on hospital systems.