CMS announced on November 4, 2026 that the CY 2027 outpatient final rule will expand the range of surgical procedures that can be furnished in outpatient settings and reduce beneficiary cost sharing for certain 340B drugs and some imaging services. The rule links access and affordability by broadening where patients can receive care while lowering out-of-pocket costs in specific cases. It is materially distinct from prior rural grant and workforce announcements because it focuses on nationwide Medicare payment and coverage policy for outpatient access.
