Universal HealthcareBy NextBestFit
Phase 1: Enactment & build · Step 1.7

Set the national fee schedule

Months 3–15; annual updates thereafter · Payment Rates Board; UHADiscuss this step
← All system changes for this step

Site-of-service payment differences (hospital outpatient vs. physician office)

replacedYear 2Provider payment & regulation
Today

The same service pays more when billed by a hospital outpatient department, which encourages hospitals to buy practices.

Under the plan

One price per service regardless of setting (site-neutral), except where added costs are documented.

Trade-off

Removes the incentive to acquire practices; hospital outpatient revenue falls.