September Medicare Panel Meets on Lab Test Rates
Published Date: 5/1/2026
Notice
Summary
Medicare is hosting a virtual meeting on September 15-16, 2026, where experts and the public will discuss how to set fair payment rates for certain lab tests. If you’re involved in clinical lab testing or Medicare payments, this is your chance to share ideas before decisions are made. Don’t miss the August 21 deadline to register or submit comments—this could impact how much Medicare pays for lab tests next year!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Speak to CMS About Lab Payments
If you work for a clinical laboratory or handle Medicare lab payments, you can present recommendations at a virtual meeting on September 15–16, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT. Registration and written presentations (and requests for special accommodations) must be submitted by August 21, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EDT; presenter registration opens August 3, 2026.
How CMS Will Set Payment for No-Data Tests
For CLFS test codes where CMS received no applicable information, Medicare payment will be determined using either "crosswalking" or "gapfilling" under 42 CFR 414.507(f). CMS plans to post proposed determinations and supporting data in late September 2026, accept written comments in October 2026, and publish final determinations and rationale in November 2026 for inclusion on the CLFS for calendar year 2027.
List of Codes Lacking Data Posted
CMS will post, in early August 2026, a list of Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) codes for which it received no applicable information during the May 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 data reporting period. The list will identify the CY 2027 codes that are the subject of crosswalking or gapfilling discussions at the September meeting.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20281, Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Starting November 30, 2026, Medicare will use the new GLOBE Model to help lower the cost of certain drugs for people on Original Medicare. This model changes how drug price increases are calculated, aiming to save money for both patients and the Medicare program without cutting care quality. If you’re on Medicare Part B, expect smarter drug pricing that helps keep your healthcare affordable.
2026-20131, Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for inpatient rehab facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects hospitals and rehab centers by clarifying how wage data and payments are calculated, ensuring fairer payment rates for fiscal year 2027. No big changes in money, but it keeps everything accurate and on track.
2026-19959, Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2027; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in Medicare payment rules for skilled nursing facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects how hospital data is used to calculate payments, making sure no current hospitals are wrongly excluded. These tweaks help keep Medicare payments fair and accurate for providers and patients.
2026-20067, Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the FY 2027 hospice payment and wage index rules that were first published in August 2026. It mainly affects hospice providers by updating how their payments are calculated, making sure the numbers are accurate starting October 1, 2026. These changes help ensure hospices get the right payment amounts based on the latest hospital wage data.
2026-19946, Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards; Correction
This update fixes some typos and technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for hospitals starting October 1, 2026. It affects hospitals getting paid for patient care, making sure the payment system and quality programs run smoothly. These corrections help hospitals get the right payments and follow updated health tech standards without delays or confusion.
2026-15652, Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program
This final rule updates the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2027. As required by statute, this final rule includes the classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's (PPS) case-mix groups and a description of the methodologies and data used in computing the prospective payment rates for FY 2027. It also finalizes the third and final of the 3-year phaseout of the rural adjustment, which began in FY 2025. This final rule includes a solicitation for public comments on alternative data sources for the IRF PPS wage index; requires all therapy treatments and/or therapy evaluations to begin no later than 36 hours from midnight on the day of admission; finalizes requirements for the initial Interdisciplinary Team meeting to occur on or before 4 days from the date the patient is admitted; and summarizes a request for information on potential future IRF PPS payment reform. Additionally, this final rule includes updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program and changes to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-08512, Medicare Program: Rechartering, Membership, and Meeting Announcement for the Medicare Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests
The Medicare Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests is getting a fresh start with five new members and upcoming meetings in July, June, and September 2026. This panel helps guide Medicare decisions about lab tests that affect patients and providers, ensuring fair and smart choices. If you want to join the July meeting in person, register by May 29, 2026—no cost changes yet, but these talks shape future lab test payments.
Next: 2026-08514, Welded Line Pipe From South Korea and Turkey; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
The U.S. International Trade Commission is checking if stopping special taxes on welded line pipe from South Korea and Turkey would hurt American pipe makers again. They want input from businesses and folks by June 1, 2026, to decide if these taxes should stay. This review could affect prices and jobs in the pipe industry soon.