Changeflow GovPing Healthcare Hospice Wage Index FY 2027 Payment Update Proposal
Priority review Consultation Amended Consultation

Hospice Wage Index FY 2027 Payment Update Proposal

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Summary

CMS has published a proposed rule to update the hospice wage index and payment rates for Fiscal Year 2027. The proposal affects Medicare-certified hospice providers and includes changes to routine home care rates, continuous home care rates, and other service payment categories. Comments are being solicited on the payment methodology updates and wage index adjustments.

What changed

CMS has issued a proposed rule updating the hospice wage index and payment rates for FY2027 under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. The proposal addresses routine home care rates, continuous home care, inpatient respite care, and general inpatient care payment amounts. The wage index revisions will adjust labor-related portions of hospice payments based on geographic area. Hospice providers participating in Medicare should review the proposed payment updates and calculate potential revenue impacts for their service areas.

Hospice providers and industry stakeholders should submit comments during the open comment period. Compliance teams should analyze the geographic wage index changes affecting their specific service areas and assess whether the proposed rates adequately reflect current labor costs. Providers should prepare feedback on any methodology concerns and potential impacts on patient access to hospice services.

What to do next

  1. Review proposed FY2027 hospice payment rates and wage index adjustments for affected geographic areas
  2. Calculate potential revenue impact from proposed rate changes
  3. Submit public comments by the specified deadline regarding payment methodology concerns

Archived snapshot

Apr 2, 2026

GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.

Content

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CFR references

42 CFR 418

Named provisions

Wage Index Payment Rate Update Routine Home Care Continuous Home Care

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Last updated

Classification

Agency
CMS
Instrument
Consultation
Legal weight
Binding
Stage
Consultation
Change scope
Substantive
Document ID
CMS-2026-1156-0001
Docket
CMS-2026-1156
Supersedes
Hospice wage index FY 2026 final rule

Who this affects

Applies to
Healthcare providers
Industry sector
6211 Healthcare Providers
Activity scope
Medicare hospice payment Hospice reimbursement
Threshold
Medicare-certified hospice providers
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Healthcare
Operational domain
Compliance
Compliance frameworks
HIPAA
Topics
Healthcare reimbursement Medicare

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