A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026," aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding Medicare payments. It seeks to modernize how payments are handled for ambulatory surgical centers. Specifically, it directs the Secretary to apply an annual update for these centers that matches the OPD fee schedule increase factor starting in 2027. Additionally, the bill proposes prohibiting certain budget neutrality adjustments for these surgical procedures. It also changes how volume is considered when determining adjustments for budget neutrality calculations.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Ambulatory surgical center owners benefit from more predictable annual payment updates and the prohibition of specific downward budget neutrality adjustments.
- Scored +3
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?
The bill increases Medicare payments to ambulatory surgical centers by aligning updates with the OPD fee schedule and prohibiting certain downward adjustments.
- Scored +3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides more predictable and higher payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers, which are often smaller healthcare entities.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill limits the Secretary's ability to apply budget neutrality adjustments that would keep aggregate expenditures stable, potentially increasing Medicare spending.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Annual Payment Updates: Under Section 2, the Secretary is required to apply an annual update for ambulatory surgical center services that equals the OPD fee schedule increase factor. This could provide more predictable and updated payment structures for these services starting in 2027.
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Prohibiting Specific Adjustments: Section 3(a) prevents the Secretary from applying specific adjustments designed to keep aggregate expenditures the same for these services. This change aims to prevent certain budget neutrality adjustments from being applied to outpatient surgical procedures.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Negative Impacts Identified: The provided text does not contain specific information regarding potential negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Ambulatory surgical center owners benefit from more predictable annual payment updates and the prohibition of specific downward budget neutrality adjustments. Would retired people be better off under this? — By strengthening the payment structure for outpatient surgical centers, the bill helps ensure continued access to services for retired Medicare beneficiaries. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill supports the financial stability of outpatient surgical centers that provide services to Medicare beneficiaries, many of whom are seniors.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill increases Medicare payments to ambulatory surgical centers by aligning updates with the OPD fee schedule and prohibiting certain downward adjustments. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Modernizing payments for ambulatory surgical centers may improve the sustainability and availability of outpatient surgical services.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides more predictable and higher payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers, which are often smaller healthcare entities. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill limits the Secretary's ability to apply budget neutrality adjustments that would keep aggregate expenditures stable, potentially increasing Medicare spending.
- 7/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut