Update on Medicare Site-Neutral Payments
A guide to Medicare site-neutral payments for healthcare leaders: the policy, financial exposure, and operating decisions that could reshape care delivery.
Payment
7 Top Healthcare Policy Risks 2026
A sharp look at top healthcare policy risks 2026, from Medicare cuts and MA scrutiny to labor, oversight, and capital pressure.
Medicare Hospice Fraud Is a Policy Failure
Medicare hospice fraud reflects weak oversight, distorted incentives, and rising compliance risk for operators, investors, and policymakers.
Post Acute Care Strategy That Holds Up
A strong post acute care strategy aligns referrals, reimbursement, data, and risk so operators can compete under Medicare pressure and tighter scrutiny.
Presentation: Medicare is Bankrupting America
A couple of weeks ago, I did a webinar for Freedom Hub titled Medicare is Bankrupting America. The links to view the program are below. A number of folks have messaged me asking for the Power Point (if I would oblige). The presentation is available here and feel free to download (no charge): Medicare Bankrupting … Read more
Rural Health Transformation Program Overview
On December 29, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the inaugural state awards from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States | CMS. The program was created as a policy vehicle to mitigate the potential negative effects … Read more
Trump’s Healthcare Policy Plan: A Review
With both houses of Congress unable to codify some plan to address the evaporating premium supports under the ACA (COVID era addition), President Trump put forth his framework known as The Great Healthcare Plan. For more on the ACA extension/premium supports and related Congressional plans/details, see my earlier post here: https://rhislop3.com/the-aca-subsidies-where-we-are-whats-next/ On January 15, the … Read more
Site Neutral Payments Kick-0ff!
As of January 1, 2026, the scope of Medicare’s site-neutral payment policy expands to include drug administration services—such as chemotherapy and other infused therapies—furnished in excepted (grandfathered) off-campus provider-based departments (PBDs) of hospitals. Under the CY 2026 OPPS final rule published by CMS: CY 2026 OPPS and Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule – Hospital Price … Read more
Rural Healthcare Still Struggling
Seven hundred fifty-six rural hospitals in the United States are at risk of closure due to financial instability, with over 40% classified as being at immediate risk. These figures are derived from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform’s latest analysis, which utilizes current cost reports submitted to CMS and verified through December 2025. … Read more
Medicare Hospice TPE Basics and Update
Within the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss and review, the ongoing Medicare TPE program with a number of hospices and hospice folks. Suffice to say, there are more than a few questions and resultant (still) confusion over the audit process and claims denial in general. I hope this post provides some … Read more