CMS Acts to Strengthen Care Quality, Cut Drug Costs, and Slash Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Medicare Beneficiaries

CMS Acts to Strengthen Care Quality, Cut Drug Costs, and Slash Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Medicare Beneficiaries In a move aimed at reshaping how Medicare pays for certain outpatient care services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a proposed rule that would revise payment policies and rates for hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) beginning in Calendar Year (CY) 2027 — signaling a renewed federal push to lower costs for Medicare beneficiaries, safeguard taxpayer investments, and strengthen access to high-quality care across the country.