Surgeries have increasingly gone outpatient or moved to ambulatory surgery centers as technology like robotic-assisted surgery has made procedures easier and safer.

Starting this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made a change that may speed up that transition even more.

CMS removed 285 mostly musculoskeletal procedures from the inpatient-only (IPO) list, a list of surgeries that are only reimbursable if done in an inpatient setting. That means these surgeries are now reimbursable if done outpatient, too.

The ultimate goal over the next three years, according to a CMS fact sheet, is to completely phase out the list, which contained about 1,730 procedures in 2025.

On one hand, this could bring value to patients and payers. Research has found the same procedure often costs less in the outpatient setting than inpatient. But experts say hospitals, on the other hand, may take a financial hit.

Here’s how this could impact hospitals.—CC

While many hospitals have bounced back from the financial challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic—namely inflation and staffing costs—CFOs are still dealing with an evolving financial landscape filled with lots of ups and downs.

Whether it’s tariffs, uncertainty around Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans, or implementing new AI technologies…everywhere, making a hospital budget is, well, hard.

Notably, hospital leaders continue to raise concerns about reimbursement rates, which is what insurance companies or public plans pay for care. The American Hospital Association (AHA) reported in April 2025 that Medicare reimbursed 83 cents for every dollar hospitals spent in 2023.

But there’s one thing for sure, Reed Hurley, EVP and CFO at University Health System in Texas, told us: “If there’s any surprises—we don’t like those.”

Here’s what hospital finance execs had to say.—CM

Each week, we schedule our rounds with Healthcare Brew readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

As of Jan. 20, New Jersey-based Inspira Health’s Warren Moore moved into a new role as president and COO from EVP and COO.

With four hospitals, 11 comprehensive care units, and 100+ other facilities to oversee, Warren says there’s plenty of work to be done. “In simple terms, my job is about turning strategy into action,” he said.

Healthcare Brew spoke with him about his priorities in the role and his thoughts on the overall healthcare landscape for hospitals.

See the full conversation here.—NO