Health systems are pushing back against proposals to change reimbursement rates for hospital outpatient departments.
In recent years, some advocates have said Medicare could save billions by moving to “site-neutral” policies, which would mean hospital outpatient departments and physicians offices would be reimbursed at the same rate, Healthcare Executive reports.
Lawmakers discussed the topic at a meeting of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Some lawmakers argue that physicians’ offices are providing the same services as some hospital outpatient departments or hospital-owned clinics.
Hospitals are arguing against such policies, saying they would add to the financial difficulties many hospitals are struggling with after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashley Thompson, the American Hospital Association’s senior vice president of public policy analysis and development, testified at the hearing and argued against site-neutral proposals.
“There is nothing ‘neutral’ about site-neutral policies,” Thompson said at the hearing. Read more.
