National Alliance for Care at Home Responds to the FY 2026 Hospice Proposed Rule

(Alexandria VA, and Washington, DC) — The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Hospice Wage Index proposed rule, which proposes payment and regulatory updates under the Medicare hospice benefit. 

The proposed 2.4% payment update fails to adequately address the mounting financial pressures facing hospices nationwide. With escalating operational costs driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising expenses for supplies and services, the proposed payment increase would threaten the ability of hospices to sustainably provide quality end-of-life care. 

“The proposed payment update for FY 2026 falls short of what is needed to sustain high-quality hospice care,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “Without meaningful adjustments, hospices across the country will face serious challenges—jeopardizing access to care for terminally ill patients and placing added strain on families already facing the unimaginable. CMS must act to protect this vital benefit and ensure that every American can receive compassionate, dignified care at the end of life.” 

The Alliance is also concerned by CMS’ failure to acknowledge the need for additional information and clarifications needed for the Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) data collection instrument, which is currently scheduled to begin October 2025. Hospices and vendors need adequate time to integrate and operationalize the complex requirements of the transition to HOPE to ensure a smooth transition—without compromising patient care.  

At the same time, the Alliance appreciates CMS’s solicitation of stakeholder feedback to reduce provider burdens in alignment with the objectives outlined in Executive Order 14094, which seeks to reduce administrative complexity and streamline regulations to facilitate more efficient and effective patient care.  

The Alliance will continue to evaluate the proposed rule and advocate for solutions that enable hospice providers to deliver exceptional care to patients and families who need it.  

Press Contacts     

communications@allianceforcareathome.org      

Elyssa Katz | 571-281-0220     

Tom Threlkeld | 202-547-7424  

About the National Alliance for Care at Home     

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is a new national organization representing providers of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and other health care services mainly delivered in the home. The Alliance brings together two organizations with nearly 90 years of combined experience: NAHC and NHPCO. NAHC and NHPCO have combined operations to better serve members and lead into the future of care offered in the home. Learn more at www.AllianceForCareAtHome.org.