Consumer Groups Hail “Same Service, Same Price” Reforms Included in New Rule

09.01.2026 / Press Release

Key Cost Containment Policy Advances for Imaging Services in CMS' 2027 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Families USA, on behalf of 35 organizational members and allies of the Consumers First coalition, today urged the Trump administration to finalize the "same service, same price" reform included in their new Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule. This provision, also referred to as site neutral payment policy, requires that imaging services without contrast be the same price for patients regardless of where they receive care - an important provision that reins in overcharging by corporate hospital systems and ultimately helps lower costs for patients and families.

In comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the alliance urged Administrator Oz to finalize the provision to expand same service, same price payment reform, calling it, "one of the most effective solutions to address hospital consolidation."

The alliance also urged CMS to take additional action to strengthen federal price transparency regulations to ensure consumers and health care purchasers have access to upfront hospital prices in dollars and cents. The organizations submitting comments represent a broad coalition of patients, consumers, employers, labor unions and providers, many part of Consumers First, the alliance to make the health care system work for everyone.

"For too long, big corporate health systems have been allowed to buy up doctors' offices and unfairly jack up health care prices with no accountability. These large hospital chains force families to pay more for routine care just because the office is now affiliated with a larger system. These unchecked health system business practices mean families are faced with higher hospital bills, which are often unfairly hidden until a massive bill arrives months later. Families USA has long supported stronger billing transparency and expanding reforms that ensure the same service is the same price, including as proposed in this rule," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, the longtime national health care consumer advocacy organization.

"This and other same service, same price reforms pending in Congress will disincentivize rampant hospital consolidation and help bring down the cost of hospital care. Americans on both sides of the aisle agree we are paying too much for our health care, and these provisions of the proposed rule will benefit consumers, health care purchasers and taxpayers alike. At the same time, we urge Congress to re-engage in the bipartisan work needed to enact a more comprehensive site neutral payment package and codify strong price transparency with legislation such as the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act and the Lower Costs More Transparency Act," Wright continued. "We look forward to continuing to work with CMS to address the real drivers of high health care costs."

Families USA encourages stakeholders and advocates to submit comments in support of these policies in the proposed rule.