Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
This final rule updates the prospective payment rates, the outlier threshold, and the wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs), which include psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or critical access hospital. This final rule also refines the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) outlier policy. These changes will be effective for IPF discharges occurring during the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. We are also finalizing the implementation of a standardized IPF patient assessment instrument, and removing two measures used in the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting Program.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 412 [CMS-1847-F] RIN 0938-AV77 ( printed page 48514) AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule updates the prospective payment rates, the outlier threshold, and the wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs), which include psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or critical access hospital. This final rule also refines the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) outlier policy. These changes will be effective for IPF discharges occurring during the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. We are also finalizing the implementation of a standardized IPF patient assessment instrument, and removing two measures used in the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting Program. DATES: These regulations are effective October 1, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The IPF Payment Policy mailbox at IPFPaymentPolicy@cms.hhs.gov , for general information. Nick Brock, (410) 786-5148, for information regarding the inpatient psychiatric facilities prospective payment system (IPF PPS) and regulatory impact analysis. Kaleigh Emerson, kaleigh.emerson1@cms.hhs.gov , for information regarding the IPF Quality Reporting Program. SU…
Citation: 91 FR 48514
