Medicare Patches Up Rehab Payment Calculation Goofs

2026-04797 — Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; Correction

This document fixes some typos and technical mistakes in the Medicare and Medicaid payment rules for 2026. It affects doctors, healthcare providers, and anyone using Medicare Part B by clarifying payment policies and program requirements starting January 1, 2026. These corrections help make sure payments and coverage rules are clear and accurate, so everyone gets paid right and on time.

2026-04467 — Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program; Correction

This correction fixes some missing labels in important tables from the 2027 health insurance rules under the Affordable Care Act. It mainly affects insurance companies and people using marketplace plans by clarifying how risk and payments are calculated. These fixes take effect right away on March 6, 2026, ensuring everyone has clear info before the 2027 plan year starts.

2025-22543 — Medicare Program; Alternative Payment Model Updates and the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model

Medicare is updating its payment plans to help more people get organ transplants through the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model starting in Performance Year 2. These changes affect hospitals and doctors who work with Medicare patients needing transplants, aiming to improve care and save lives. Comments on the proposed rule are open until February 9, 2026, so stakeholders can share their thoughts before it’s finalized.

2025-21767 — Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Calendar Year 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Rate Update; Requirements for the HH Quality Reporting Program and the HH Value-Based Purchasing Expanded Model; Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Updates; DMEPOS Accreditation Requirements; Provider Enrollment; and Other Medicare and Medicaid Policies

Starting in 2026, Medicare is updating how it pays for home health care and durable medical equipment, making sure payments match patient needs better. Home health providers will see new rules for quality reporting and value-based programs, while suppliers must meet updated accreditation and enrollment standards. These changes affect patients, providers, and suppliers, with payment updates and new deadlines kicking in early next year.

2025-21458 — Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; Correction

This document fixes some technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for 2026, especially about payments for skin substitutes. It affects doctors, Medicare patients, and providers by clarifying how certain payments work starting November 28, 2025. No big changes in money, just important corrections to keep things running smoothly.

2025-21456 — Medicare Program; Contract Year 2027 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program

Starting in 2027, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug, and Cost Plan programs will see updates to improve how plans are rated, marketed, and how drugs are covered. These changes affect millions of Medicare users and the companies that run these plans, aiming to make enrollment easier and benefits clearer. Comments on these updates are open until January 26, 2026, so stakeholders can weigh in before the new rules take effect.

Previous: 2025-22985 — Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reallocation of Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

Starting December 15, 2025, some Pacific cod that catcher vessels using trawl gear won’t catch will be shared with catcher/processors using trawl gear and pot gear vessels in the Central Gulf of Alaska. This switch helps make sure the total allowed catch for 2025 gets fully used, benefiting fishermen who use different gear types. The change lasts until the end of 2025 and helps keep the fishing season fair and productive.

Next: 2025-23088 — Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Military Readiness Activities in the Hawaii-California Training and Testing Study Area

The Navy, Coast Guard, and Army got the green light to carry out training and testing in the Hawaii-California area from December 2025 to December 2032. These activities might accidentally affect marine mammals, but strict rules are in place to minimize harm and require careful monitoring. This plan balances military readiness with protecting ocean life, ensuring everyone plays by the rules for the next seven years.