Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Drug Acquisition Cost Survey

Overview

On November 25, 2025, CMS issued the CY 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule, which established the OPPS Drug Acquisition Cost Survey (ODACS). CMS published the Final Rule in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump on April 15, 2025, requiring the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a survey under section 1833(t)(14)(D)(ii) of the Social Security Act to determine the hospital acquisition cost for covered outpatient drugs at hospital outpatient departments. After the survey concludes, the Secretary will consider and propose any necessary adjustments to align Medicare payments with the cost of acquisition, consistent with the budget-neutrality requirement in section 1833(t)(9)(B) of the Social Security Act and other legal requirements.

Questions

For questions, please contact OPPSDrugSurvey@cms.hhs.gov.