CY 2026 Changes to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System and Quality Incentive Program. CMS1830-P Display
Summary
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to how it pays kidney dialysis centers and rewards them for providing high-quality care starting in 2026. These changes affect the roughly 500,000 Americans with end-stage renal disease who depend on dialysis to survive, as well as the doctors and facilities that treat them.
Key Points
- 1CMS is adjusting payment rates to dialysis centers that treat patients with kidney failure, which could affect how many dialysis services are available and their quality
- 2The rule modifies the Quality Incentive Program, which gives bonuses to dialysis centers that meet certain health and safety standards for their patients
- 3These changes take effect in calendar year 2026, giving dialysis providers time to prepare for new payment and quality requirements
- 4The public has until July 3, 2025 to submit comments on this proposed rule before CMS makes a final decision
- 5Patients with end-stage renal disease may see changes in their dialysis care options, treatment quality standards, and the services available at their treatment centers
Impact Assessment
If you are a dialysis center, your Medicare reimbursement rates and quality performance metrics will change starting in 2026, requiring operational and reporting adjustments. If you are a dialysis patient, your access to quality care may be affected by how facilities respond to new payment and quality incentive structures.
National
Significant
Key Dates
June 30, 2025
Regulatory Connections
Medicare Program: End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals with Acute Kidney Injury, End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model
Medicare Program: End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals with Acute Kidney Injury, End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.
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