2027 FINAL RULES HOSPICE
An Analysis and Commentary on Federal Health Care Issues by Larry Goldberg
CMS Posts Final FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued a final rule that will update the Hospice Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2027.
The rule updates the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2027. The rule also includes an analysis of Medicare non-hospice spending, including details regarding a hospice service and spending variation index, and finalizes the requirement that hospices provide the hospice election statement addendum to all Medicare beneficiaries at the time of hospice election. Additionally, the rule finalizes conforming changes to discharge from hospice care regulations and changes to the face-to-face encounter regulations.
The rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on July 31. A copy of the 160-page rule is currently available at: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-15686.pdf.