Medicare/CMSMedium ImpactCoverage

2025-12-18 - MAHA ELEVATE Brings Lifestyle Medicine to Original Medicare

Published January 12, 2026Effective September 1, 2026

AI Summary

CMS announced the MAHA ELEVATE Model, a voluntary program funding up to 30 chronic disease prevention and lifestyle medicine programs starting September 2026. This newsletter also includes multiple other Medicare updates including drug survey requirements, billing code changes, and compliance tips.

Action Required

By December 31, 2025: Register for the Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals PEPPER webinar if applicable. By January 2, 2026: Critical Access Hospitals must ensure physician reassignments are filed in PECOS or claims will be returned to provider. By March 31, 2026: Hospitals that received OPPS payments for outpatient drugs from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 must complete the Drug Acquisition Cost Survey and register at OPPSDrugSurvey@cms.hhs.gov with CMS Certification Number.

Affected Billing Codes

L1933L1952E1032

Plan Types

Traditional Medicare

Specialties

all-specialties