CMS Launches 2026 Drug Acquisition Cost Survey for Medicare OPPS Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is set to conduct a comprehensive drug acquisition cost survey from January 1 through March 31, 2026. This survey will utilize the fee-for-service data collection system to gather data on select outpatient drugs and biological products purchased by hospitals paid under the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The initiative, finalized in the 2026 OPPS final rule, aims to enhance the accuracy and transparency of drug pricing data for policymaking purposes. Hospitals that received Medicare OPPS payments for outpatient drugs between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, are required to participate in the survey. They must report detailed information on all payable outpatient drugs acquired during this period. To facilitate smooth communication, hospitals that have not yet identified a survey point of contact are advised to reach out to CMS directly via the provided email. CMS plans to leverage the collected data starting with the 2027 OPPS and Ambulatory Surgical Center proposed rule, anticipated for release in the summer of 2026. This data integration is expected to support refined reimbursement methodologies and more informed regulatory oversight of outpatient drug payments. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) is actively engaging its members by sharing additional details on the OPPS survey through its webpage and by organizing CMS training webinars scheduled for December 9 and 11, 2025. MHA encourages hospital representatives to participate in these educational sessions to ensure compliance and proper data submission. This survey reflects ongoing regulatory efforts to gather precise acquisition cost data in a complex healthcare payment landscape. Accurate drug cost data collection empowers CMS to set reimbursement rates that better align with actual hospital acquisition expenses, potentially influencing hospital billing practices and Medicare expenditure controls.