Comment on CMS-2026-1256-0002

Summary: AHIP, a national association representing health insurance plans, supports the proposed FY 2027 IPPS and LTCH PPS rules, particularly regarding the expansion of value-based care models and the adoption of electronic Prior Authorization (ePA). While generally supportive, they urge CMS to move from voluntary to mandatory performance-based metrics for ePA and to ensure that new quality measures do not create duplicative reporting burdens or "double-count" Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.