Insights | Meridian Research Group | Page 17

Medicare Hospice Reimbursement

As part of the FY26 hospice final rule, CMS will increase hospice payments by 2.6% ($750m) relative to FY25 levels and set the annual per beneficiary payment cap at $35,361.44 (increased from $34,465.34 in FY25).

Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Reimbursement

As part of the FY26 SNF final rule, CMS will increase SNF payments by 3.2% ($1.16b) relative to FY25.

Medicare Inpatient Hospital (IPPS) Reimbursement

As part of the FY26 IPPS final rule, CMS will increase inpatient hospital payments by 2.8% ($4b) relative to FY25.

In anticipation of tomorrow’s deadline, President Trump has announced that “reciprocal trade” deals have been reached with all top trading partners other than China, India, Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan. Lower-level negotiations are ongoing to fill in the details of these deals and legal text is likely to emerge within a couple of weeks as occurred...

EPA “Endangerment Finding”

This week, the EPA proposed to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas "Endangerment Finding." The Endangerment Finding provides the basis for regulating emissions, including for autos, power plants, and other sources. Administrator Zeldin characterized the finding as the “holy grail of the climate change religion,” given its significance in providing...

Permitting Reform

House Majority Leader Scalise (R-LA) has indicated that the House would be turning its attention to working on standalone permitting reform legislation when they return from their recess in September. Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) also referenced permitting reform in a recent interview as an area that has generated interest from Democrats....