Transmittals

January 2026 Update of the Ambulatory Surgical Center [ASC] Payment System.

The Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS) Submission of Copybook Files to the Provider Statistical & Reimbursement (PS&R) System.

Completion of Changes to Remove Reliance on the AX Modifier to Accurately Pay End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Claims.

Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS) - Delete Obsolete Reason Codes - Part 7

Revisions to Appendix C-Survey Procedures and Interpretive Guidelines for Laboratories and Laboratory Services-Advance Copy

Updates of Chapters 3, 4, and Exhibits in Publication (Pub.) 100-08, Including Updates to the Provider Notification Process and Vetting with the CMS Process.

Additional updates to No Legal Obligation to Pay for or Provide Services and Examples of Application of Government Entity Exclusion (Pub. 100-02, chapter 16, sections 40 and 50.3.3 and newly created section 40.7) and Claims Submitted for Items or Services Furnished to Medicare Beneficiaries in State or Local Custody Under a Penal Authority (Pub. 100-04, chapter 1, section 10.4) - This CR Rescinds and Fully Replaces CR 13903.

Additional updates to No Legal Obligation to Pay for or Provide Services and Examples of Application of Government Entity Exclusion (Pub. 100-02, chapter 16, sections 40 and 50.3.3 and newly created section 40.7) and Claims Submitted for Items or Services Furnished to Medicare Beneficiaries in State or Local Custody Under a Penal Authority (Pub. 100-04, chapter 1, section 10.4) - This CR Rescinds and Fully Replaces CR 13903.

Manual Update for Emergency Department Procedure Coded for Method II Critical Access Hospital (CAH)

Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix A - Hospitals.

Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Special Project Savings 9000 – Central Office Savings to be Reported and Appear on the Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS) MSP Savings Summary Report (09A)

Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments and Underpayments - 2nd Quarter Notification for FY 2026

Implementation of Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model Prior Authorization and Medical Review Process and Establishment of New Quarterly Change Request (CR) Process for Possible Future Changes to Information Included in Attachments A, B, C, D, E, and F.

January 2026 Update for the Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)

Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule – Medicare Travel Allowance Fees for Collection of Specimens and New Updates for 2026

January 2026 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 27.0

Implementation of Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model Prior Authorization and Medical Review Process and Establishment of New Quarterly Change Request (CR) Process for Possible Future Changes to Information Included in Attachments A, B, C, D, E, and F.

Integrated Data Repository (IDR) Daily Snapshot File

Implementation of Changes in the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) and Payment for Dialysis Furnished for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in ESRD Facilities for Calendar Year (CY) 2026

Implementation of Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model Prior Authorization and Medical Review Process and Establishment of New Quarterly Change Request (CR) Process for Possible Future Changes to Information Included in Attachments A, B, C, D, E, and F.