Ambulatory surgery

Ambulatory surgery is surgery you have and go home from the same day, usually at an outpatient surgical facility.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Ambulatory surgery is surgery that does not require a hospital stay. Medicare describes ambulatory surgical centers as outpatient facilities that perform surgical procedures, and says that in most cases patients are released within 24 hours. Hospitals can also offer same-day surgery in an outpatient clinic.

For TRICARE members, the practical question is not the word but the procedure: whether a specific operation is covered, and whether you need approval first, depends on the service and your plan. Read how TRICARE handles surgery and TRICARE’s referrals and pre-authorizations page. Your surgeon’s office or your regional contractor can confirm authorization before the day of surgery.

Source for the definition: Medicare.gov, ambulatory surgical centers.