WASHINGTON, D.C. – CMS has published the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) adjustments for the Calendar Year 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule. Although the CPI-U is 2.7%, the inflation adjustment will differ depending on whether the item has been included in the competitive bidding program (CBP) and whether the patient’s zip code is in a former competitive bidding area (CBA). Below are the CPI-U adjustments for 2026:

• CBP items in former CBAs (projected percentage change): 8%
• CBP items in non-CBAs (CPI-U): 7% 
• Note: not directly stated in the change request.
• Non-CBP items (CPI-U minus productivity adjustment): 0%

What This Means for CBP Items in Former CBAs
For items such as CPAP devices, oxygen, standard & power wheelchairs, and NPWT where the payment is based on CBP payment rates, the 2.8% increase should be directly applied to the current 2025 fee schedule.

What This Means for Non-CBP Items
For items that have never been part of the CBP, such as urological and ostomy supplies, the 2.0% inflation adjustment should be directly applied to the current 2025 fee schedule, regardless of location in the country.

What This Means for CBP Items in Rural Areas
For CBP items in rural areas, the 50/50 blended rate will continue to be applied (50% fully adjusted regional payment/50% unadjusted fee schedule from 2015) meaning the 2.7% increase will only be applied to the fully adjusted portion of the calculation. As such, the portion of the reimbursement calculation that is based on the static 2015 rates will remain the same, but the fully adjusted portion will increase by 2.7%.

What This Means for CBP Items in Non-Rural Areas
For CBP items in non-rural, non-bid areas, the payment rate would be a 2.7% increase to the current CY 2025 non-rural, non-bid rates.

The official CY 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule is anticipated to be published soon.