News: AHA urges MedPAC to recommend higher payment updates ahead of January 15–16 meeting
January 15, 2026
CDI Strategies - Volume 20, Issue 3
The American Hospital Association (AHA) sent comments to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) ahead of their January meeting regarding payment update recommendations. Specifically, the AHA urged MedPAC to:
- Recommend higher payment updates for inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems than those discussed in the December meeting
- Examine Medicare Advantage’s role in access to care and provider financial stability
- Recommend current law updates for inpatient rehab facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies
- Consider recommending a higher update to physician reimbursements to account for the impact of inflation
“The decisions you reach on hospital payment updates will affect not only America’s hospitals and health systems but also other providers and, most importantly, the patients and communities we serve,” the AHA letter said.
MedPAC will convene for its meeting on January 15–16, 2026.
Editor’s note: To read the full comment letter from the AHA, click here.