Medicare Proposal Could Shake Up Hospital Profits — Thoughts?

So, CMS is pushing a site-neutral Medicare payment plan, which basically cuts the extra money hospitals get for certain outpatient procedures and drug infusions. Estimates suggest this could slash $280M next year and over $11B in a decade — not small change.

From my perspective, this is a huge deal for hospital investors. Hospitals that rely heavily on outpatient drug revenue might see their margins squeezed big time. Expect slower expansions, fewer acquisitions, and potentially even some M&A deals getting put on hold.

The American Hospital Association is already gearing up for a legal fight, so we’re looking at months of uncertainty. Meanwhile, smaller clinics and independent offices could actually benefit if reimbursements level out.

Honestly, I think this could really reshuffle the healthcare landscape — big hospitals might lose some leverage, and investors will have to rethink strategies fast.

What do you all think — will hospitals fight this into the ground, or is CMS finally forcing a necessary correction?