CMS Proposes Site-Neutral Payments for Noncontrast Imaging to Save $260M

CMS’s 2027 OPPS proposal would equalize payments for noncontrast imaging between hospital outpatient departments and physician offices, cutting Medicare spending by ~$260M, with $70M in patient premium savings.

• The proposed rule targets off-campus provider-based hospital departments, exempting rural sole community hospitals, and is part of the 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System.
• The American Hospital Association and Radiology Business Management Association expressed concerns about patient complexity and access, while the ACR noted other provisions including a 2.4% OPPS rate increase and a new software-as-a-medical-service payment framework.

Announcement only; the CMS proposed rule has not been directly reviewed, and stakeholder comments are awaited.

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