North Star to Close New York Orthopedic Group and ASC

North Star Health Alliance, based in Ogdensburg, N.Y., said June 24 it will close its North Country Orthopaedic Ambulatory Surgery Center and North Country Orthopaedic Group, both in Watertown, N.Y., within the next 30 to 90 days, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The moves affect orthopedic, endocrinology and physical therapy services in the region.

The system framed the closures as part of ongoing restructuring and operational stabilization. For patients in northern New York, that means finding new providers for procedures and follow-up care, and for staff it raises questions about job continuity as the units wind down.

The decision reflects a broader squeeze on rural and smaller health systems, where thin margins, rising labor and supply costs, and uneven payer mix make specialty lines hard to sustain. Ambulatory surgery centers were pitched as lower-cost alternatives to hospital settings, but they still need consistent volume and favorable reimbursement to stay viable. When a system stabilizes finances, specialty service lines are often first to be cut.