Senators Bill Cassidy and Maggie Hassan have proposed a policy paper advocating for site-neutral Medicare payments, which would standardize payment rates for medical services regardless of the setting in which they are provided.
The senators argue that this reform could lower healthcare costs for patients and save taxpayer dollars. Currently, Medicare payment rates differentiate between services rendered in hospital outpatient departments and those provided in other healthcare settings, allowing hospitals to charge higher facility fees. Cassidy and Hassan believe that many of these services could be safely performed in less expensive environments.
The proposed site-neutral payment framework aims to establish uniform payment rates for common outpatient services, particularly in off-campus hospital outpatient departments. The senators have garnered support from industry groups and organizations, including the Small Business Majority, Families USA, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
However, hospital groups have expressed concerns that the proposal could jeopardize access to essential hospital-based care and destabilize the healthcare system. Despite the backlash, the bipartisan nature of the proposal reflects a growing consensus among lawmakers and industry stakeholders regarding the need for change in the Medicare payment landscape. The ongoing discussions surrounding Medicare payment reform highlight the complexities of balancing cost containment with the need for accessible and reliable healthcare services.