Highlights from the FY 2027 Medicare Part A Final Rules

At the end of July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the FY 2027 final rules for most Medicare Part A settings, effective October 1. The rules include annual payment updates for each setting, as well as payment policy discussions and quality program revisions. CMS published proposed rules in the spring. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) staff reviewed the proposals and submitted written comments in response to issues that are relevant to occupational therapy practitioners working in these settings. CMS included many of our comments in the final rules and addressed several of our concerns. The final rules consist of hundreds of pages. Following are highlights from the final rules that reflect AOTA advocacy for the critical role of occupational therapy in Medicare Part A settings.