Comment on CMS-2026-1256-0002
Hackensack Meridian HealthOpposeAdvocacy
Summary: Hackensack Meridian Health opposes the proposed FY 2027 payment updates, arguing they do not sufficiently cover rising labor and input costs. The organization also requests the elimination of certain wage index requirements, the sunsetting of transitional exceptions, and a maintenance of uncompensated care funding. Additionally, they caution against the mandatory inclusion of ambulatory surgical centers in episode-based payment models due to their different operational infrastructures.
On behalf of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), we thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule (or “FY 2027 IPPS Proposed Rule” or “Proposed Rule”). Our comments address an array of proposed reimbursement policies, including: the rate update; the out-migration adjustment (OMA) for Middlesex county; application of the transitional exception policy for the wage index; and uncompensated care payments. We also respond to the request for information (RFI) about the inclusion of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM). Please see the attached letter for our full comments.