CMS published its annual proposed rule for FFY 2027 covering the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital PPS on April 14, 2026. The proposed rule includes a 2.4% operating payment increase for acute care hospitals meeting quality reporting standards, representing a projected $1.9 billion rise in total IPPS payments. Major proposals address graduate medical education criteria, provider-based department policies, low wage index hospital transition rules, organ acquisition costs, uncompensated care payments, new technology add-on payments, and modifications to multiple quality reporting programs including the Hospital IQR, VBP, and HRRP programs.