Rural Health
News by Topic: Hospice and palliative care
CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
Federal Register
Aug 5, 2025 - Notice of a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2026. Includes proposals related to admission to hospice regulations and the hospice face-to-face attestation requirements under the certification of terminal illness regulations. This final rule also includes a technical correction to the regulatory text and provides updates to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
These regulations are effective October 1, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 25, 2025 - Announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) of receipt of an application for continued
recognition of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care
as a national accrediting organization for hospices that
wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Comments are due by July 25, 2025.
Source: Federal Register