09/15/2025
Implementation of CMS' 2026 payment rule is right around the corner. Oct. 1 brings these key changes for hospices:
• A 2.6% increase in Medicare base rate payments
• Clarification on which physicians can admit patients to hospice care
• Transition to the new HOPE quality reporting tool
While the payment bump offers some relief, many say it falls short in today’s financial and workforce climate. The HOPE rollout, in particular, is raising concerns about readiness and administrative burden.
👉 Hospices: How are you preparing for these changes, and what impact do you foresee on your operations and patient care?
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2026 final rule goes into effect Oct. 1, and hospices need to prepare. Hospices will