The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently finalized the 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Payment Rates and Policies, including a net 5.06% increase in payments to MA plans before accounting for coding trends. The overall increase reflects an average county benchmark growth rate of 9.04% along with continued phase-in of changes to the MA risk model and rebasing of county benchmark amounts. The updates and changes to payment policies are important for plans in preparing offerings and bids for 2026, as well as providers and others who do business with MA plans or are thinking about engaging with MA.
Read on as we explore the final rate notice summary and its implications for stakeholders.