Traditional MedicareAdministrativeMedium impact
2026-03-12 - CMS Strengthens Patient Protections & Accountability in Organ Donation System
Medicare/CMS·General
Effective date
Apr 1, 2026
We identified it
Mar 13, 2026
Summary
CMS released a comprehensive newsletter covering multiple policy updates including hospital price transparency enforcement starting April 1, clinical lab reporting requirements beginning May 1, and Quality Payment Program conversion factor corrections affecting physician payments.
Action Required
By March 31, 2026: Hospitals must submit OPPS Drug Acquisition Cost Survey data if listed in the ODACS provider table. By April 1, 2026: Ensure hospital machine-readable files comply with new Hospital Price Transparency requirements. Clinical diagnostic laboratories must prepare for data reporting from May 1-July 31, 2026. No action needed for Quality Payment Program conversion factor corrections - Medicare Administrative Contractors will automatically adjust affected claims processed January 1-February 26, 2026.