The Same Care, Lower Cost Act aims to standardize Medicare payment rates for the same medical services across different outpatient settings—hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other facilities. Starting in 2027, Medicare will pay the same rate for qualifying procedures regardless of where they're performed, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services responsible for identifying at least 66 types of services to be covered under this "site neutral" payment system. Emergency department visits, critical care, and trauma care are excluded from the requirement. The bill directs the Secretary to consider recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission when implementing these changes. By aligning payments across settings, the legislation intends to reduce costs while maintaining quality care and preventing providers from steering patients to more expensive facilities.
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