Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026

This bill directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to test a new payment model that allows blood transfusions for hospice patients to be billed separately from the standard daily hospice rate. Under this proposed change, Medicare would reimburse these transfusions at the same rate used when they are provided outside of a hospice setting. The legislation requires the agency to evaluate the model by comparing patient outcomes, such as hospital visits and chemotherapy use, between those receiving the new payment structure and similar patients under the current system. This initiative aims to determine if separating the payment for blood transfusions impacts care delivery and resource utilization for individuals receiving end-of-life care.