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CY 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS-1830-P)
On June 30, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update payment rates and policies under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2026. This proposed rule would also update the acute kidney injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities for calendar year (CY) 2026 and proposes to update requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).
For CY 2026, CMS is proposing to increase the ESRD PPS base rate to $281.06, which CMS expects would increase total payments to all ESRD facilities, both freestanding and hospital-based, by approximately 1.9%. The CY 2026 ESRD PPS proposed rule also includes a proposed payment adjustment for certain non-labor costs for ESRD facilities located in Alaska, Hawaii, and the United States (U.S.) Pacific Territories.
CMS is proposing shortening the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) survey to 39 questions, removing 23 questions, and eliminating three health equity reporting measures from the ESRD QIP. Additionally, CMS is seeking input on health IT use in dialysis facilities; and input on future measure concepts. CMS also is proposing the early termination of the ESRD Treatment Choices Model.
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