Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes (CMS-1833-P)
Summary
This proposed rule updates how Medicare pays hospitals for inpatient care and long-term care facilities, affecting the rates these hospitals receive for treating Medicare patients in 2026. The rule also sets new quality standards that hospitals must meet to receive full payment, which can impact the care patients receive and hospital operations.
Key Points
- 1Medicare will adjust payment rates to hospitals for inpatient care in fiscal year 2026, potentially affecting which services hospitals can afford to provide
- 2Hospitals must meet new quality program requirements to receive full reimbursement from Medicare, focusing on patient safety and care outcomes
- 3Long-term care hospitals that treat patients needing extended recovery periods will also see changes to how they are paid under this rule
- 4The public has until May 1, 2025 to submit comments on this proposed rule before it becomes final
- 5These payment and quality changes could indirectly affect patients through changes in hospital services, staffing, and the types of treatments available
Key Dates
April 11, 2025
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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