Washington, D.C. – As Congress seeks solutions to lower healthcare costs for patients and the Medicare program, a bipartisan focus has turned towards the idea of site-neutral payments for outpatient services. This proposal suggests that Medicare should reimburse the same amount for a service, regardless of where it is administered. Currently, Medicare often pays higher rates for services provided in hospital outpatient departments compared to independent physician offices and ambulatory surgical centers.
A panel of experts is set to convene on Monday, June 17 at Noon ET, to discuss the concept of site-neutral payments. Larry Levitt, the Executive Vice President for Health Policy at KFF, will moderate the 45-minute discussion. The conversation will delve into why site-neutral payments have become a priority for policymakers, insurers, and employers, as well as how potential changes to Medicare payments could impact the current system.
Joining Levitt on the panel are three distinguished experts in the field, including Zack Cooper, Associate Professor of Public Health and Economics at Yale University; Zachary Levinson, Project Director at KFF Project on Hospital Costs; and Ashley Thompson, Senior Vice President of Public Policy Analysis and Development at the American Hospital Association.
The virtual event hosted by KFF’s Health Wonk Shop series offers a unique opportunity for attendees to gain deeper insights into healthcare policy discussions from leading experts in the field. This session will provide a comprehensive look at the implications of site-neutral payments and how they might shape the future of healthcare reimbursement.
Through this panel discussion, participants will have the chance to explore various proposals for changing Medicare payment policies and consider the potential implications for patients, providers, and healthcare systems. By analyzing the impact of site-neutral payments on outpatient services, stakeholders can better understand how to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery and reimbursement.
Overall, the conversation on site-neutral payments represents a crucial step towards addressing rising healthcare costs and ensuring equitable reimbursement for essential services across different healthcare settings. As policymakers continue to explore innovative solutions for improving the efficiency and affordability of healthcare, discussions like these play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare policy and delivery in the United States.