U.S. Ambulatory Services - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The u.S. ambulatory services market size is expected to grow from USD 321.95 billion in 2025 to USD 339.5 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 442.37 billion by 2031 at 5.45% CAGR over 2026-2031. This report is Segmented by Care Setting (Primary Care Clinics, Surgical Specialty Clinics, and More), Service Type (Diagnosis, Observation and Consultation, and More), Specialty (Primary Care, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, Cardiovascular, and More), and Ownership Model (Physician-Owned, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

U.S. Ambulatory Services Market Trends and Insights

Inpatient-To-Outpatient Site-Of-Care Migration

The migration from inpatient to outpatient settings continues to drive volume growth in the United States ambulatory services market. In 2026, CMS removed 285 musculoskeletal procedures from the Inpatient-Only list and added 573 new codes to the ASC Covered Procedures List, including cardiac electrophysiology ablations and posterior lumbar interbody fusion. This change enables procedures previously confined to hospitals to transition to outpatient settings, expanding the procedure mix and increasing opportunities for ambulatory operators. Additionally, commercial Medicare Advantage plans often align with traditional Medicare site-of-service patterns, amplifying the impact of CMS policy changes across payer channels and solidifying this trend as a key growth driver for the market.

Aging Population And Chronic Disease Burden

Demographic trends are creating sustained demand for the United States ambulatory services market. Medicare spending is projected to grow at 7.8% annually through 2033, reflecting the impact of an aging population. By 2.05 trillion adults aged 50 and older are expected to have at least one chronic condition, driving demand for outpatient services in cardiovascular management, nephrology, oncology infusion, and behavioral health. Outpatient cancer care is particularly significant, with projected volumes reaching 222 million encounters over the next decade. These trends anchor the market's growth to long-term population health needs rather than short-term economic fluctuations.

Regulatory Complexity, Reimbursement Variability, And Site-Neutral Payment Pressure

The regulatory framework of the United States ambulatory services market remains intricate and costly. Operators must address federal payment policies, state Certificate of Need rules, private payer credentialing, and HIPAA compliance simultaneously. The CY 2026 OPPS/ASC Final Rule, extending site-neutral payment to drug administration services in certain off-campus hospital outpatient departments, is expected to reduce Medicare OPPS spending by USD 290 million in 2026. CMS has also retained the 340B remedy offset for 2026 and indicated a larger conversion factor reduction in 2027, adding financial strain on outpatient hospital operations. These regulatory shifts create revenue planning uncertainties for smaller operators, leading to cautious capital allocation and an uneven operating environment across the United States ambulatory services market.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Minimally Invasive And Digital Technologies Broaden Outpatient Access
• Value-Based Care, Covered-Procedure Expansion, And Virtual Supervision Flexibility
• Workforce Shortages, Burnout, And Revenue-Cycle Cybersecurity Fragility

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

In 2025, Primary Care Clinics held a 38.75% revenue share, maintaining their leadership in the United States ambulatory services market. This dominance highlights their role as the primary access point for routine evaluations, chronic disease management, referrals, and follow-up care. However, the shift toward higher acuity or procedural density settings is pressuring traditional clinics to enhance workflows and improve patient retention.

Telehealth and Virtual Clinics are projected to grow at a 7.23% CAGR through 2031, making them the fastest-growing segment in the United States ambulatory services market. Growth is driven by Medicare's telehealth flexibilities extended until December 2027 and the increasing integration of telehealth into behavioral health and follow-up consultations. By December 2025, mental health telehealth accounted for 28.2% of specialty encounters, reflecting the rapid adoption of off-site care models.

Treatment services accounted for 42.75% of revenue in 2025, making it the largest segment in the United States ambulatory services market. This reflects the higher reimbursement rates for procedures compared to routine consultations. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) reported EBITDA margins of 24.1% in 2024, with only slight easing expected by 2029. As more procedures shift from hospitals to outpatient settings, treatment-heavy facilities are expected to maintain their lead.

Diagnosis is projected to grow at a 6.90% CAGR from 2026 to 2031, making it the fastest-growing segment in the United States ambulatory services market. Digital Health's annual recurring revenue nearly doubled to USD 96.9 million between March 2025 and March 2026, showcasing the growing role of diagnostic platforms in generating software-based revenue streams.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Care Setting
  • Primary Care Clinics
  • Surgical Specialty Clinics
  • Urgent Care Centers
  • Freestanding Emergency Departments
  • Diagnostic Imaging Centers
  • Specialty Clinics
  • Home Healthcare Agencies
  • Telehealth and Virtual Clinics
• By Service Type
  • Diagnosis
  • Observation and Consultation
  • Treatment
  • Wellness and Preventive Care
  • Rehabilitation
• By Specialty
  • Primary Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Ophthalmology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiovascular
  • Pain Management
  • Nephrology and Dialysis
  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Behavioral Health
  • Women's Health
  • Dental and Oral Surgery
• By Ownership Model
  • Physician-Owned
  • Hospital or Health-System-Owned
  • Corporate or Private-Equity-Owned
  • Joint Ventures

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• American Family Care
• AMSURG
• CareNow
• CityMD
• Concentra
• CVS MinuteClinic
• DaVita Kidney Care
• Envision Healthcare
• Fast Pace Health
• Fresenius Kidney Care
• GoHealth Urgent Care
• HCA Healthcare Surgery Ventures
• Kaiser Permanente
• NextCare
• One Medical
• Physicians Endoscopy
• RadNet
• SCA Health
• Surgery Partners
• United Surgical Partners International
• WellNow Urgent Care

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support