America’s Essential Hospitals Responds to Proposed OPPS Rule from CMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement attributable to:
Jennifer DeCubellis
President and CEO
America's Essential Hospitals

Washington, D.C. - The proposed OPPS rule from CMS takes an axe to critical funding that supports essential hospitals without concern for how it will affect the patients they serve. CMS is proposing unlawful cuts to Medicare outpatient drug payments that will disproportionately harm essential hospitals, using a flawed methodology that is based on data from less than a quarter of 340B covered entities. The rule's so-called site neutral policy is also yet another cut to Medicare payments that hospitals desperately need to stay open and serve their communities.

We urge CMS to reconsider these ill-advised policy choices and help protect and sustain essential hospitals.

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About America's Essential Hospitals
America's Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America's Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health and access to health care. We support our more than 400 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health, and other services. Supported by Essential Hospitals Institute, the association's research and education arm, essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value.

Contact:
James Swann
Director of Communications
[email protected]
202.585.0102