H.R. 7666: SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act
This bill, known as the SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act, aims to change how Medicare pays for certain services provided by off-campus outpatient departments of healthcare providers. Currently, there are specific regulations that limit the ability of these outpatient departments to receive payments from Medicare in a way that is equivalent to what hospital outpatient departments receive for similar services.
Key Provisions
- The bill proposes to amend Section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act.
- It allows Medicare payments for specific items and services that are provided by off-campus outpatient departments to be based on the prospective payment system, similar to hospital outpatient departments.
- Beginning in 2027, the bill specifically includes any item or service provided by an off-campus outpatient department of a provider, provided that the total payments for all such items or services furnished by physicians in a given specialty were less than $2,000,000 during the previous year.
Objective
The primary objective of this bill is to ensure that off-campus outpatient departments are compensated fairly for their services, which may help sustain these services in communities. The intended effect may also be to improve access to outpatient care for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing these providers to receive payments on par with hospital outpatient departments.
Implementation Timeline
The provisions outlined in the bill are set to begin implementation starting in the year 2027. This gives time for the necessary adjustments in the Medicare payment systems and for healthcare providers to prepare for these changes.
Overall Impact
The changes brought about by this legislation would modify the financial landscape for off-campus outpatient departments, potentially increasing their viability and ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries have continued access to various outpatient services.
Relevant Companies
- HCA Healthcare (HCA) - This company operates numerous outpatient services and could see changes in payment structures affecting their revenue from Medicare.
- McKesson Corporation (MCK) - As a distributor of healthcare services and pharmaceuticals, changes in outpatient service payments may influence its operations and partnerships with outpatient facilities.
- Universal Health Services (UHS) - As a provider of healthcare services, changes in outpatient payment methodologies may impact the company’s profitability and service offerings.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
2 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Feb. 24, 2026 | Introduced in House |
| Feb. 24, 2026 | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
Corporate Lobbying
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