Technical Errors Delay Hospice Payment Updates for FY2027

On September 8, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice that there was a technical error in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 hospice wage index. The error affected FY27 hospice wage index values for all census-based statistical areas (CBSAs) and rural areas, requiring updates to the wage index standardization factors, and, subsequently, the national payment rates for each level of hospice care. CMS is in the process of releasing a correction notice to update the FY 2027 hospice wage index and payment rates in the Federal Register. The final rates for each CBSA and rural areas will be published here.