The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule on Dec. 11 to update and revise policies for the mandatory Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model for its second performance year beginning July 1, 2026. The model, finalized in late 2024, requires kidney transplant hospitals in selected donation services areas to participate in performance-based payments for meeting targets for increasing transplant surgeries in the performance period, organ acceptance rates, and post-transplant outcomes [refer to Washington Highlights, Dec. 6, 2024]. The notice includes proposals to amend participation requirements, refine performance assessment metrics and methodology, and modify public reporting requirements for model participants. The CMS also includes a request for information on a future Pre-transplantation Access Process Measure for the quality domain and future policies to monitor allocation out-of-sequence kidneys as part of the IOTA Model’s monitoring activities. Comments are due Feb. 9, 2026.
- Washington Highlights