Same Scan, Same Price: CMS Finalizes Site-Neutral Payments for Imaging

Statement from Mark E. Miller, executive vice president of Health Care at Arnold Ventures

Washington, D.C. (November 6, 2026) — Arnold Ventures issued the following statement on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1850‑F). 

“We applaud CMS for implementing site-neutral reforms for imaging services in the final Medicare hospital outpatient rule. An X‑ray doesn’t get any better because a hospital bought the building, and Medicare will no longer pay as if it does.

“By extending site-neutral payments to routine imaging like X‑rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs, CMS estimates patients and taxpayers will save more than $9 billion over the next decade. The policy also removes one more incentive for hospital systems to buy up independent practices just to charge more for the same care.

“We appreciate CMS’s efforts to build on prior work to expand site-neutral payments to drug administration and off-campus clinic visits. Now more than ever, Americans need relief from the rising health care costs that burden us all. Rulemaking is an important step, and Congress should finish the job by enacting comprehensive site-neutral reforms that protect patients, employers, and taxpayers from paying hospital markups on routine care.”