Small medical specialties that operate out of off-campus hospital outpatient clinics would get higher Medicare reimbursements under this bill. Right now, services at these satellite locations are often paid at the lower physician office rate instead of the hospital outpatient rate, which can make it financially difficult for hospitals to keep those clinics open — especially in rural or underserved areas. Starting in 2027, any specialty whose total Medicare billings at off-campus sites were under $2 million the prior year would be paid at the hospital outpatient rate instead, helping sustain access to services like audiology, rheumatology, and other smaller specialties.
Congressional Summary
SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act This bill allows for payment under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services of certain items and services that are furnished at off-campus outpatient departments. Specifically, the bill allows for payment of items and services for which payments to physician specialists (under the Medicare physician fee schedule) did not exceed $2 million during the previous year.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-02-24
- Date Added
- 2026-03-30