SCA Health

What SCA Health does

SCA Health, legally Surgical Care Affiliates, is a national ambulatory surgical and specialty practice management company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and a wholly owned subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group operating under its Optum division. The company operates more than 370 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and 400+ physician practice clinics organized into 11 practice groups, working with 9,700+ affiliated physicians and 60+ health system partners to deliver outpatient surgical and specialty care across musculoskeletal, gastroenterology, cardiology, and ophthalmology. SCA Health serves more than 2 million patients annually and reports joint-venture or strategic affiliations with major health systems including Ascension, Providence, Atrium Health, Indiana University Health, and Texas Health Resources, with approximately 50% of facilities operating under health system JV structures.

The company's core product is its ASC and specialty practice network, supplemented by HiVE (Health Innovation Value Enterprise), a proprietary value-based care enablement platform providing clinical models, advanced analytics, specialty-focused payment models (including bundles, shared savings, and capitation), and a seamless practice overlay. Supporting offerings include Optum Specialty Practices (a physician-led MSO model), Specialist Management Solutions (a direct-to-employer service connecting employees with cost-effective surgeons and facilities), and acquired specialty platforms such as US Digestive Health, OrthoAlliance, National Cardiovascular Partners, and PE GI Solutions. The technology stack centers on a data-driven analytics platform integrated with Optum infrastructure, supported by internal Revenue Cycle Management and clinical systems.

SCA Health's business model combines transaction-fee revenue from ASC surgical procedures with managed-services revenue from physician practice management and recurring contractual revenue from health plan and employer relationships, including value-based contracting with major payers such as UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna. Go-to-market is enterprise and partnership-led, with direct sales to physicians, health systems, and health plans rather than consumer-facing distribution. The company was previously known as Surgical Care Affiliates and has grown through a multi-decade acquisition program (2005, 2012, 2019) and organic JV expansion. Leadership transitioned in 2023-2025 with a new CEO, first CHRO, and new CMO.

Name

SCA Health

Legal name

Surgical Care Affiliates

Website

https://antelopevalleysurgerycenter.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCA Health is a national ambulatory surgery center and specialty practice management company, operating 370+ ASCs and 400+ physician practice clinics with 9,700+ physicians and 60+ health system partners to serve 2 million+ patients annually under Optum/UnitedHealth Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ambulatory Surgery Center Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Specialty Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) (HLAFAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Specialty ASCs (HLAFAIAB), Orthopedic & Spine Surgery Centers (HLAFAIAG), Ambulatory Surgery Centers (Ophthalmic/Outpatient Eye Surgery) (HLAKAKAO)

Keywords

• Ambulatory surgery centers
• Physician practice management
• Specialty care services
• Value-based care
• Surgical facility management

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. ASC Surgical Procedures: Revenue generated from surgical procedures performed at ambulatory surgery centers (370+ facilities). Industry-leading core ASC business delivers quality-driven, lower cost care with exceptional patient and physician satisfaction.
2. Physician Practice Management: Revenue from managing 400+ physician practice clinics across 11 practice groups. Physician-led, professionally managed MSO-model of practice management that supports physician independence and shifts them to value.
3. Health Plan Contracts: Revenue through professional and facility contracting with major payers including enhanced professional and facility fees, value-based contracting, and shared savings arrangements.
4. Specialist Management Solutions: Direct-to-employer business connecting employees with local surgeons and facilities offering cost-effective options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SCA Health operates a national network of 370+ ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and 400+ physician practice clinics, delivering same-day surgical and specialty care across gastroenterology, orthopedics, cardiology, ophthalmology and more. The company provides physician practice management services under a physician-led MSO model and pairs these facilities with value-based care enablement through its HiVE platform and contracts with major health plans and health systems.

Product overview

SCA Health operates as a national surgical and practice management company offering a multi-tiered product portfolio centered on ambulatory surgery centers (370+ ASCs) and specialty practice management (400+ physician practice clinics). The core offering includes ASC services delivering same-day surgical care, supplemented by HiVE (Health Innovation Value Enterprise), a value-based care enablement platform providing clinical models, advanced analytics, and specialty-focused payment models. Specialty practices are supported through Optum Specialty Practices (physician-led management model) and Specialist Management Solutions (direct-to-employer service). The company has expanded through acquisitions including OrthoAlliance (orthopedic) and US Digestive Health (gastroenterology), and partners with organizations like National Cardiovascular Partners, PE GI Solutions, One World Surgery, and the Teammate Support Network. The portfolio spans gastroenterology, orthopedics, and cardiovascular specialties, serving over 2 million patients annually through partnerships with 9,700+ physicians across 60+ health systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HiVE (Health Innovation Value Enterprise): Value-based care solutions platform for specialists providing tools and resources for clinical experiences and patient outcomes.
• Optum Specialty Practices
• Specialist Management Solutions

Products and services

• Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) SCA Health's core ambulatory surgery center network providing same-day surgical care across 370+ facilities nationwide, delivering quality-driven, lower-cost surgical services with strong patient and physician satisfaction for specialty physician groups.
• Specialty Practices Physician-led specialty practice management services supporting clinical independence across 400+ physician practice clinics in 11 practice groups, covering gastroenterology, orthopedics, cardiology and ophthalmology specialty practices.
• HiVE (Health Innovation Value Enterprise) Value-based care enablement platform providing specialists with clinical models, advanced analytics, specialty-focused payment models, and seamless overlay with existing practice operations and billing.
• Specialist Management Solutions (SMS) Direct-to-employer service that helps employers and employees navigate healthcare challenges by connecting them with local surgeons and facilities offering cost-effective surgical options through the Optum Care network.
• OrthoAlliance One of the largest orthopedic platforms in the United States providing treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, joint replacement, reconstruction, sports medicine and ancillary services across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
• US Digestive Health Leading gastroenterology practice management offering colonoscopies, endoscopies, abdominal ultrasounds, esophageal monitoring, and gastrostomy tube placement across clinical locations and ASCs in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
• National Cardiovascular Partners Leading outpatient cardiology and vascular care platform committed to delivering quality-driven, patient-centered cardiovascular care in communities across the United States.
• PE GI Solutions Provides integrated business strategies and insights for GI specialists and healthcare partners, supporting practice, ASC, and ancillary service growth through professional management, aligned investments and strategic partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ patients served each year at 370+ clinical locations and 400 physician practice clinics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Digestive HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019US Digestive Health (USDH) is a physician-led, professionally managed MSO and one of the leading gastroenterology practices in the country with over 35 clinical locations and 20 ASCs in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Services include colonoscopies, abdominal ultrasounds, endoscopies, esophageal monitoring, gastronomy tube placement and more. Partnership strengthens SCA Health's gastroenterology offerings.
• OrthoAlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019One of the largest orthopedic platforms in the United States, consisting of 80 clinics, 9 ASCs and complementary ancillary services across three states (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky). Services include treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, joint replacement, reconstruction, sports medicine and more. Partnership provides 2,000+ dedicated teammates and access to 200+ value-driven providers.
• PE GI SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPE GI Solutions specializes in providing integrated business strategies and insights for GI specialists and healthcare partners to help their practices, ASCs and ancillary services grow and thrive through professional management, aligned investments and strategic partnerships.
• National Cardiovascular PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA leading outpatient cardiology and vascular platform in the country, committed to delivering quality-driven, patient-centered care in communities across the United States.
• One World SurgeryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCA Health is a foundational corporate partner to the nonprofit One World Surgery. The mission is to ignite the spirit of service and transform lives by providing access to high-quality surgical care globally. SCA Health teammates, physician partners and families participate in medical mission trips to Honduras and Dominican Republic.
• OrthoCarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiVE (Health Innovation Value Enterprise) partner for value-based orthopedic care solutions. Part of the specialty-focused payment model giving specialists a seat at the table.
• Emerge OrthocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiVE partner for value-based orthopedic care solutions in the specialty-focused payment model.
• OPA (Orthopedic Physicians Alaska)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiVE partner for value-based orthopedic care solutions in the specialty-focused payment model.
• OCC (Orthopedic Center of Central Virginia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiVE partner for value-based orthopedic care solutions in the specialty-focused payment model.
• AnthemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner. SCA Health led organization's first value-based care programs in partnership with Anthem of Kentucky. Strong relationships enable value-based contracting.
• UnitedHealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health plan partner for professional and facility contracting, value-based care arrangements.
• CignacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner for professional and facility contracting, value-based care arrangements.
• HumanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner for professional and facility contracting, value-based care arrangements.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner for professional and facility contracting, value-based care arrangements.
• AetnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner for professional and facility contracting, value-based care arrangements.
• OptumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and health plan partner. SCA Health is part of Optum, providing access to Optum Care network, Specialist Management Solutions direct-to-employer business, and enterprise resources for transforming healthcare.
• Indiana University HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems partnered with SCA Health. Joint venture investment opportunities and strategic affiliations.
• Texas Health ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• AscensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• ProvidencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• Virtua HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• UK HealthCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• AdventHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• MemorialCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.
• UC San Diego HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth system partner among 60+ systems. Joint venture and strategic affiliation relationships.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Envision Healthcare: Envision historically operated AmSurg, one of the largest ASC management companies in the U.S., making it a direct historical peer to SCA Health in the physician-partnered ASC space. Both companies co-invest with physicians and health systems in outpatient surgical facilities and compete for specialty practice partnerships.
• U.S. Anesthesia Partners: U.S. Anesthesia Partners is a physician-led anesthesia services organization that partners with surgical facilities and ASCs across the country. It is a direct competitor in the outsourced specialty healthcare services space, serving the same physician practice and ASC customers as SCA Health, particularly for the anesthesia and ancillary service lines SCA Health explicitly cites as a differentiator.
• Surgery Partners: Surgery Partners is one of the largest publicly traded operators of short-stay surgical facilities in the U.S., directly competing with SCA Health across multi-specialty ASCs and surgical hospitals. Like SCA Health, it partners with health systems and physicians to own and operate surgical facilities, and both companies pursue value-based care arrangements with commercial payers.
• Tenet Healthcare (USPI): Tenet's United Surgical Partners International (USPI) is the largest ambulatory surgery center operator in the United States, running hundreds of ASCs and short-stay surgical hospitals. USPI directly competes with SCA Health for physician partners, health system joint ventures, and commercial payer contracts across multi-specialty outpatient surgery.

Emerging players

• Shields Health Solutions: Shields Health Solutions partners with health systems to build specialty pharmacy programs, including ambulatory and outpatient clinical services. It represents an adjacent specialty-care platform model — partnering with hospitals and physicians to scale specialty services under value-based contracts — competing for the same health system partnership channel as SCA Health.
• OneOncology: OneOncology partners with community oncology practices to support value-based care delivery, similar to how SCA Health uses its MSO model and HiVE platform to bring specialty physicians into value-based arrangements. Both companies focus on preserving physician independence while enabling participation in payer innovation, and both target specialty groups seeking scale and analytics.

Regional players

• Allied Digestive Health: Allied Digestive Health is a regional gastroenterology practice management platform concentrated in the Northeast. It competes with SCA Health's US Digestive Health subsidiary for GI physician partnerships and ASC joint ventures in the same geography (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York), making it a regional direct peer within the specialty that is one of SCA Health's strongest verticals.

Broad incumbents

• HCA Healthcare: HCA Healthcare is the largest hospital company in the U.S. and operates a significant network of physician practices and ambulatory surgery centers as part of its broader portfolio. It competes with SCA Health for outpatient surgical volume, physician alignment, and joint venture structures, though ASC management is not its core specialty focus.
• Optum Health: Optum Health is the parent platform of SCA Health and the largest network of physician practices in the U.S., including Optum Care. While SCA Health is an embedded business unit, Optum Health is the broader incumbent that competes with other specialty and primary care aggregators and is the conduit through which SCA Health accesses capitated patient panels.

Others

• DaVita: DaVita is a leading outpatient services operator and, like SCA Health, was acquired by UnitedHealth Group's predecessor entities before becoming independent again. DaVita's integrated kidney care business parallels SCA Health's specialty physician partnership model — combining facility operations, physician practice management, and value-based contracts with major payers. It is an adjacent outpatient specialty peer rather than a direct ASC competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCA__Health
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCAHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scahealth

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCA Health