Why Medicare’s Hospital Wage Index Exceptions Jumped 60% Rob LottandGeoffrey Hoffman June 16, 2026

https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp20260615.915758/full/?utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YzisdRyJwY2etvV07bdD4bGwR8Xfn9x89lGwX17IXShas43Go4ksenCmnqD3OQQdIQEVC2Z7elfo07meqsJKptd8IfA&_hsmi=424329869&utm_content=ahp&utm_source=hasu Health Affairs Publishing’s Rob Lott speaks to Geoffrey Hoffman of the University of Michigan about his recent paper exploring the structure of Medicare’s hospital wage index and discusses the growth of exceptions over time, exploring their implications for how the system functions and whether it meets its intended policy objectives.