HFS News & Information

CMS Published a Public Use File (PUF) for the FY 2028 Wage Index May 22, 2026. This file reflects the Worksheet S-3, Parts II and III wage data from the cost reports for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY Beginning 10/1/2023 to 09/30/2024).
The following file has been created and can be downloaded and used with the Wage Index Verification Tool for the Federal Fiscal Year 2028, PUF. Note, September 1, 2026 is the Deadline for hospitals to request revisions to their Worksheet S-3 wage data and CY 2025 occupational mix data as included in the wage and occ mix preliminary PUFs, and to provide documentation to support the request. MACs must receive the revision requests and supporting documentation by this date.

CMS published a Proposed Rule Public Use File (PUF) for the FY 2027 wage Index April 30, 2026. This file reflects the Worksheet S-3, Parts II and III wage data from cost reports for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (FY Beginning from 10/1/2022 to 9/30/2023).

Hospitals will have approximately 1 month (May 29, 2026) to verify their data and submit correction requests to both CMS and their MAC to correct errors due to CMS or MAC mishandling of the final wage and occupational mix data as posted in the April 30, 2026 PUF.