14 Health System Trends C-Suite Leaders Are Watching in 2026

CMS is proposing a 2.4% increase in outpatient and ambulatory surgical center payments for 2027, alongside a cut to the 340B drug discount and a broader push toward site-neutral payment. The proposed OPPS rule raises rates 3.2% for cost inflation, offset by a 0.8% productivity adjustment, and adds $55 million for hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. CMS would reduce the 340B discount to 33.4% of average sales price, down from roughly 40%, citing wide disparities in hospital acquisition costs. The agency also proposes lower hospital reimbursement for some imaging services under site-neutral policy and is seeking comment on stronger price transparency requirements. Hospital groups, including America’s Essential Hospitals, have criticized the proposal as a blow to safety-net funding.