Hospices: Initial Implementation of the Mandatory Election Statement Addendum
To help hospices adjust to the new requirement, from October 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, while hospices are required to furnish the addendum to every electing beneficiary, CMS will exercise enforcement discretion during this three-month window.
During this time, Medicare Administrative Contractors will not deny claims solely because the addendum is missing or incomplete and will focus on educating hospices to help them come into full compliance.
Fiscal Year 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements Final Rule (CMS-1851-F)
On July 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (CMS-1851-F) that would update Medicare hospice payments and the aggregate cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2027 under existing statutory and regulatory requirements.