Comment on CMS-2026-1256-0002

Summary: The Missouri Hospital Association opposes several components of the proposed rule, specifically the mandatory nature of the CJR-X payment model, the inclusion of Medicare Advantage data in quality metrics, and the proposed market basket updates. They argue that mandatory models impose undue financial and administrative burdens, particularly on rural hospitals, and that the proposed data and reimbursement adjustments do not sufficiently account for rising costs and operational complexities.