Sens. Cassidy and Hassan Release Bipartisan Site-Neutral Payment Reform Framework

Statement From Arnold Venture’s Mark E. Miller on the New Framework

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 1, 2024) –​“We commend Sens. Cassidy and Hassan for taking a critical step toward ensuring Americans are charged the same price for the same service, regardless of where they seek care. Today, Medicare beneficiaries pay up to four times more for routine health services provided at a hospital-owned outpatient facility compared to the same service at an independent physician’s office. This payment distortion incentivizes large hospital systems to buy up physician practices, increasing consolidation and driving up prices. The release of this bipartisan framework for site-neutral payment reforms is an important step toward lowering high health care costs, which voters consistently rank as one of their top concerns.

Advancing comprehensive site-neutral payment reform can help create a fairer and more affordable system for patients and slow rampant consolidation that has contributed to higher prices. It would result in lower out-of-pocket costs and premiums for those enrolled in Medicare, many of whom are on a fixed income. We look forward to working with Congress to develop specifics as this important issue moves forward.”

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Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. Since Laura and John Arnold launched their foundation in 2008, the philanthropy has expanded, and Arnold Ventures’ focus areas include education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. As signatories of the Giving Pledge, the Arnolds have committed to giving away most of their wealth during their lives.