AHA, other hospital groups oppose site-neutral legislation before markup

As the House Energy and Commerce Committee prepares to consider a legislative provision (H.R. 3561) that would reduce payments for drug administration services furnished in off-campus provider-based departments, the AHA and other national hospital groups reiterated to committee leaders their opposition to the proposal and to site-neutral policies in general, which fail to account for the fundamental differences between hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and other ambulatory care sites. 

“It is important to note that HOPDs treat patients who are sicker and have more chronic conditions than those treated in physician offices or ambulatory surgical centers, as they are better equipped to handle complications and emergencies,” the letter notes. The committee is scheduled to consider H.R. 3561 tomorrow.

AHA also released a fact sheet highlighting three site-neutral proposals being considered by the committee and their estimated impact on Medicare reimbursement to hospitals and health systems; the estimates should not be combined because the legislative proposals contain some overlap.