A bipartisan House bill introduced March 25 would permanently extend a more favorable Medicare inflation update for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). It would also block another type of payment adjustment that the industry argues could hold ASC reimbursement down. The legislation – the Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026 – was introduced by Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) and John Larson (D-Conn). If enacted, it would align annual payment updates for ASCs with hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) beginning in 2027 and eliminate an ASC-specific budget-neutrality adjustment.
Read the full article: ASC Payment Fight Returns as Lawmakers Move to Preserve Hospital Market Basket Update //
Source: https://ascnews.com/2026/03/asc-payment-fight-returns-as-lawmakers-move-to-preserve-hospital-market-basket-update/