U.S. Healthcare Costs and State Rankings Reveal Affordability Gaps

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new hospital outpatient rule that would cut Medicare payments for drugs obtained through the 340B Drug Pricing Program from the average sales price plus 6 % to the average sales price minus 33.4 %. The agency also seeks to expand site‑neutral payment policies for services delivered in off‑campus outpatient departments, framing the changes as measures to improve affordability.

At the same time, personal‑finance site WalletHub released a report ranking all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on healthcare cost, access and outcomes. New Hampshire, Minnesota and Iowa topped the list, citing low out‑of‑pocket spending, affordable premiums and strong provider availability. Alaska, Mississippi, Georgia, Texas and several other states fell near the bottom, reflecting higher costs and poorer access. The juxtaposition highlights ongoing concerns about how policy changes and regional variation affect Americans’ ability to obtain affordable care.