0938-AV53 202510 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0938 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS 0900 Department of Health and Human Services HHS CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program Updates (CMS-1828)

This annual final rule updates the national, standardized 30-day period payment rate, national per-visit rates used to calculate low utilization payment adjustments (LUPAs) and outlier payments under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for home health agencies based on the applicable home health payment update percentage.  This rule also includes changes to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) to help CMS continue to implement an effective, efficient, and sustainable program by generating savings and reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare program. Additionally, CMS is finalizing several changes to the DMEPOS CBP to streamline a few operational processes to decrease the burden on bidders, as well as incorporating previous sub-regulatory guidance into regulation. 

]]> Economically Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Completed Actions Yes No Fully or Partially Exempt Completion of a Section 610 Review 42 CFR 484 42 U.S.C. 1395(x) 42 U.S.C. 1395(fff) 42 U.S.C. 1395(m) Statutory Final 01/01/2026 By statute, rule must be effective by January 1 annually. No NPRM 07/02/2025 90 FR 29108 NPRM Comment Period End 08/29/2025 Final Action 12/02/2025 90 FR 55342 Final Action Effective 01/01/2026 YES Businesses Federal No Yes No Brian Slater Director, Division of Home Health and Hospice 0938 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS 410 786-5229 brian.slater@cms.hhs.gov Center for Medicare, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore MD 21244