Policy Alert: CMS released the FY2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update final rule on Friday August 1.
The agency confirmed a 2.6% payment rate increase and several policy changes, including updates to quality reporting penalties, wage index methodology, and the upcoming HOPE Tool launch.
Statement from Tom Koutsoumpas, NPHI Founder & CEO:
“NPHI is pleased to see CMS confirm a payment rate increase for hospices across the US. In the current environment, even a modest increase provides some relief and stability for providers. At the same time, nonprofit, mission-driven, community-based hospice organizations continue to face real financial and workforce pressures as they work to deliver high-quality, person-centered care.”
Tom continued: “We appreciate CMS’s ongoing engagement with the provider community and remain committed to collaborative dialogue to ensure future policy updates support the long-term sustainability of nonprofit hospice providers and the patients and families they serve. As part of that work, NPHI continues to advocate for increased recognition and support for the vital role of nonprofit, mission-driven, community-based hospice organizations.”
𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨: 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙗𝙤𝙭 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝙉𝙋𝙃𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨.
