July 31 2026
OASIS Answers
Categories: HQRP

NEW: CMS Posts the Hospice FY 2027 Final Rule

by Kerry Termine, DPT, HCS-D, COS-C, CHS-C

On July 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements (HQRP) final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for hospices.

Included in this rule were the following finalized changes:

FY 2026 Routine Annual Rate Setting Changes,
Service and Spending Variation Index,
Finalized Mandatory Hospice Election Statement Addendum, and
Face-to-face encounter regulations.

Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Updates

Related to the HQRP, CMS has finalized their decision to display on the Medicare.gov Care Compare tool hospice providers that have failed to submit any data or who submit less than 90% of the HQRP reporting requirement for data submission. Providers who fail to meet the requirement will have an icon appear next to their hospice’s name. This icon will appear no earlier than FY 2028 and will be based on calendar year (CY) 2026 APU submission data.

The final is published and accessible from the  Federal Register.

For more information on HOPE Guidance, the HOPE in Action Training for Hospice providers focuses on the essential elements that drive HOPE accuracy, compliance, and confidence.

Follow OASIS Answers to keep on top of new CMS information related to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, the Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE), and more!