CMSFinal Rule
Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements; Correction
HealthcareFinance & Banking
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Summary
This regulation updates how Medicare pays hospice care providers for end-of-life services in 2026 and corrects errors from a previous announcement. It adjusts payment rates based on regional wage differences and sets new quality reporting requirements that hospice agencies must follow to maintain Medicare funding.
Key Points
- 1Medicare is updating payment rates for hospice services in 2026, with adjustments based on local wage costs in different regions
- 2Hospice agencies must report quality metrics about patient care to Medicare to continue receiving federal funding
- 3This is a correction to a rule announced earlier, fixing technical errors or unclear language from the original notice
- 4The changes affect hospice care providers and patients enrolled in Medicare who receive end-of-life care services
- 5Hospice agencies will need to comply with new or updated quality reporting standards by specific deadlines
Impact Assessment
If you are a hospice care provider, this means your Medicare reimbursement rates will change based on your geographic location's wage index, and you must implement new quality reporting procedures to continue receiving Medicare funding.
Impact Level
Significant
Geographic Scope
National
Compliance Cost
Moderate
Who is Affected
Healthcare ProvidersConsumers
Key Dates
Published
September 4, 2025
Regulatory Connections
Amends CFR Sections
42 CFR Part 418
Other Documents in This Rulemaking (CMS-2025-0030)
CMSHealthcare
Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 CMS-1835-P
CMSHealthcare
FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements CMS-1835-P. Display CMS-1835-P
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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