Introduced in Senate — S. 1629

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1629

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 6, 2025

Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to align Medicare fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Same Care, Lower Cost Act.

Sec. 2. Aligning Medicare fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings

(a) In general

Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(aa) Site neutral payments for certain services furnished in ambulatory settings
(1) In general
For items and services furnished in a specified ambulatory setting during 2027 or a subsequent year and included in an ambulatory payment classifications identified pursuant to paragraph (2) for such year, payment under this part shall be made at the applicable site neutral payment rate under this part (as determined by the Secretary) if the requirements for such payment are otherwise met.
(2) Identification of services to which site neutral payments apply
For 2027 and subsequent years:
(A) Identification
(i) In general
The Secretary shall identify not fewer than 66 ambulatory payment classifications for site neutral payments which are appropriately furnished in either a hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or other setting determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(ii) Additional APCs
The Secretary may add additional ambulatory payment classifications to those identified under clause (i) as the Secretary determines clinically appropriate
(B) Exception
The Secretary shall reclassify the ambulatory payment classifications for emergency department visits, critical care visits, and trauma care visits at a hospital outpatient department as Comprehensive APCs, in which all the items and services on the same claim are packaged into a single payment unit. Any item or service that is provided with such a visit so reclassified shall not be treated as an item or service identified under subparagraph (A), and shall not be subject to the provisions of paragraph (1). The Secretary may, pursuant to rulemaking, specify exceptions to any reclassification under the first sentence of this subparagraph.
(3) Consideration of MedPAC recommendations
In carrying out this subsection (including the identification of services under paragraph (2)), the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in Chapter 8 (entitled Aligning fee-for-service payment rates across ambulatory settings) of its Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System report submitted to Congress in June 2023.
(4) Definition of specified ambulatory setting
In this subsection, the term specified ambulatory setting means a hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or other setting determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(b) Conforming amendments

(1) Payment system for ambulatory surgical center services

Section 1833(i)(2)(D)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(i)(2)(D)(i)) is amended by striking for payment and inserting for, subject to section 1834(aa), payment.

(2) HOPD fee schedule

Section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)) is amended—

(A)

in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the amount of payment and inserting subject to section 1834(aa), the amount of payment; and

(B)

in paragraph (9)(B), by adding at the end the following: In determining adjustments under this subparagraph for 2027 or a subsequent year, the Secretary shall not take into account under this subparagraph or paragraph (2)(E) any changes in expenditures as a result of the application of section 1834(aa).

(3) Physician fee schedule

Section 1848(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting and section 1834(aa) after succeeding provisions of this subsection.