CMSFinal Rule

CY 2026 Hospital Outpatient PPS Policy Changes and Payment Rates and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Policy Changes and Payment Rates. CMS-1834-P Display.

HealthcareFinance & Banking

Summary

This regulation sets new payment rates that Medicare will pay hospitals and surgical centers for outpatient procedures in 2026. The changes affect how much money these healthcare facilities receive for treating patients, which can influence costs and access to care.

Key Points

  • 1Medicare is updating how much it pays hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (smaller facilities that do same-day surgeries) for services provided to Medicare patients in 2026
  • 2The new payment rates will affect thousands of hospitals and surgical centers across the country that treat Medicare patients
  • 3These payment changes may influence how much patients pay out-of-pocket and which procedures are available at different facilities
  • 4Healthcare facilities and the public have until November 26, 2025 to submit comments on the proposed changes before they become final
  • 5The regulation covers a wide range of outpatient services including diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, and other treatments provided without hospital admission

Key Dates

Published

November 21, 2025

Comment Deadline

November 26, 2025

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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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