The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held its fourth meeting of the 2025–2026 meeting cycle from March 2–3. Featured topics included ground ambulance data collection, access to certain complex palliative services, Medicare Advantage (MA) networks, and Medicare enrollment challenges.
Commissioners reviewed a mandated report on the Medicare ground ambulance data collection system and considered a draft recommendation urging Congress to continue collecting cost and revenue data from ambulance providers and suppliers. Members generally supported the recommendation but emphasized the need for data that better reflects differences between urban and rural services. They also discussed ways to streamline reporting requirements to minimize burden on suppliers and providers.
MedPAC also examined barriers hospice beneficiaries can face when seeking certain complex palliative services for conditions such as end-stage renal disease or cancer. Commissioners discussed several potential policy approaches, including enhanced data reporting, high-cost outlier payments, add-on payments, and a voluntary transitional care program.
Other discussions addressed the complexity of Medicare enrollment decisions and the challenges beneficiaries face when choosing coverage options. Commissioners highlighted efforts to audit provider directories to ensure accuracy. Members then discussed the use of MA encounter data in risk adjustment and emphasized the importance of safeguards to remove incentives for excessive coding.
The commission will vote on the recommendations proposed at this meeting in April 2026. A full summary of the discussion is available to members of the America’s Essential Hospitals Federal Action Network (FAN). To access this summary and other policy resources, join the FAN today.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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