As we head into the second half of the 2025 calendar year, there are a few major dates that you need to be aware of for wage index purposes. These dates are important because they will impact reimbursement for the Federal Fiscal Year 2027.
Upcoming Wage Index Deadlines for 2025 and 2026
One of the most important dates that is quickly approaching is September 2, 2025. This date signifies the deadline for hospitals to request revisions to their Worksheet S-3 wage data. This is also the deadline to request any revisions to the previously submitted occupational mix data. Medicare Administrative Contractors (“MACs”) must receive the revision requests and supporting documentation by this date. MACs will have approximately 10 weeks to complete their reviews, make determinations, and transmit revised data to CMS’s Division of Acute Care (“DAC”).
The deadline for MACs to complete all desk reviews for hospital wage data and transmit revised Worksheet S-3 wage index data and occupational mix data to DAC is November 14, 2025.
The first important date of 2026 is January 30, 2026. This is the release of revised FY 2027 wage index and occupational mix files as public use files (“PUFs”) on the CMS website. The MACs will have desk-reviewed and verified this data before it is issued. Also, a file including each urban and rural area’s average hourly wages for the final FY 2026 and preliminary 2027 wage indexes will be provided on the CMS website.
Contact Blue & Co.’s Experts
Blue & Co.’s wage index team has years of experience in working on both wage index and occupational mix projects. We can also assist answer questions about how CMS uses the Wage Index Survey and how it impacts Medicare reimbursement. We can help ensure you are compliant with CMS regulations and work with your hospital to look for opportunities and appropriately capture all the information required.
Kyle Smith, CPA, 340B ACE, Director
Austin Fisher, CPA, Senior Manager
