MedPAC discusses 2026 draft payment update recommendations

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Dec. 12 and 13 discussed draft payment update recommendations for 2026, which the commission will vote on in January. The draft recommendations call for Congress to update Medicare payment rates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services by the current law amount plus 1% and transition to a safety-net index policy to distribute an additional $4 billion to safety-net hospitals.

They also...