
A hospital market basket is an input price index used by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to measure changes in the costs of providing inpatient hospital services in acute care hospitals. It is a defined set of health expenditures within a defined time period. CMS market baskets are used to update inpatient hospital operating, outpatient PPS payments, and hospice PPS payments. They also update cost limits for various types of hospitals and health care institutions. The current market baskets for each of the Prospective Payment Systems (PPSs) are proposed and finalized through rulemaking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A defined set of health expenditures in a defined time period used to measure price changes. |
| Purpose | To measure changes in the costs of providing inpatient hospital services by acute care hospitals included in the Medicare prospective payment system. |
| Calculation | Based on detailed cost weights determined using benchmark input-output data and vintage weights for the capital input price index. |
| Updates | The market basket for each Prospective Payment System (PPS) is updated periodically through rulemaking. |
| Examples | Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), Home Health (HH), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF), Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). |
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What You'll Learn

Acute care hospitals
A market basket is a defined set of health expenditures within a defined time period, used by CMS to measure price. Market baskets are used to update inpatient hospital operating, outpatient PPS payments, hospice PPS payments, and cost limits for various hospitals, including acute care hospitals. Acute care hospitals are short-term hospitals that provide treatment for severe and brief illnesses, along with rehabilitation and other medical procedures. Acute care hospitals are distinct from long-term care hospitals, where patients typically stay for extended periods.
The Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Market Basket, with a base year of 2018, is relevant to acute care hospitals. This market basket updates inpatient hospital operations, outpatient PPS payments, and hospice PPS payments. It also updates cost limits for short-term acute care hospitals located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. This market basket is effective from CY 2019 to CY 2025 and also updates Ambulatory Surgical Center PPS payments.
Market basket data is essential for understanding the financial operations of acute care hospitals. It provides insight into the costs and payments associated with inpatient and outpatient services, as well as hospice care. Acute care hospitals rely on market baskets to determine appropriate payment systems and stay informed about any changes in cost limits.
Additionally, market baskets are used to calculate the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), which is another critical component for acute care hospitals. The MEI is used to update Medicare payment rates for various services and procedures provided by these hospitals. By referring to the relevant market basket data, acute care hospitals can ensure they are complying with the latest payment rates and structures.
Overall, market baskets serve as a valuable tool for acute care hospitals to navigate the financial landscape of healthcare. They provide the necessary data to make informed decisions about budgeting, payment systems, and cost management, ultimately helping these hospitals deliver efficient and effective patient care.
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Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) use market baskets to measure healthcare expenditure over a defined time period. The CMS market baskets are used to determine reimbursement rates for Medicare-covered products and services, which are adjusted annually based on factors including labour cost changes.
The CMS website provides detailed information on market basket research and data, including updates and forecast release dates. The site also offers transparency on how the baskets are constructed, with downloadable resources that explain the calculations.
Market baskets are used for various Prospective Payment Systems (PPS), with updates to inpatient hospital operating, outpatient PPS payments, and hospice PPS payments. For example, the 2018-based Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) market basket was effective for FY 2022. The CMS also provides information on the 2022-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) market basket, effective for CY 2025.
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a significant source of data for CMS to determine annual adjustments to Medicare reimbursements. The ECI measures changes in labour costs, which are then used to adjust reimbursement rates for healthcare providers.
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Prospective Payment Systems (PPS)
A market basket, in the context of hospitals and healthcare, is a defined set of health expenditures within a defined time period, used by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) to measure price. Market baskets are used in conjunction with Prospective Payment Systems (PPS).
PPS refers to a set of payment formulas where reimbursement is based on predetermined rates, regardless of the intensity of services provided. In other words, health centres receive a fixed payment per visit, regardless of the length or resources used during the visit. PPS rates are specific to individual health centre locations and are determined and updated by financial accounting processes conducted by state agencies.
There are several types of PPS, including the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), which covers inpatient hospital operating costs, and the Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS), which allows for continuous 60-day patient recertification when the patient remains eligible. Other PPS types include the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) PPS, the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) All-Inclusive Rate (AIR), and the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPF) PPS.
PPS rates are used in conjunction with market baskets to determine reimbursement rates for healthcare providers. For example, the 2018-based IPPS market basket was effective for FY 2022, and the 2022-based FQHC market basket is effective for CY 2025. These market baskets are used to update reimbursement rates for various healthcare services, including inpatient hospital operating costs, outpatient PPS payments, and hospice PPS payments.
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Expenditures and price indexes
A hospital market basket is a tool used by the federal Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services to measure changes in the costs of providing inpatient hospital services by acute care hospitals included in the Medicare prospective payment system. It is a defined set of health expenditures in a defined time period.
Market baskets are used to update payment rates for various healthcare providers, including inpatient hospitals, outpatient services, hospices, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and long-term care hospitals. For example, the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Market Basket, with a base year of 2018, updates inpatient hospital operating and outpatient PPS payments, hospice PPS payments, and cost limits for various types of hospitals.
The Hospital Market Basket is also used to calculate input price indexes, such as the Capital Input Price Index (CIPI), which measures the costs of capital inputs for hospitals. The vintage-weighted price proxy for the CIPI is calculated by applying vintage weights to raw price proxies. This methodology is discussed in a 2008 research paper that also provides alternative weightings for the hospital market basket input price index.
The current market baskets for each of the Prospective Payment Systems (PPSs) were proposed and finalized through rulemaking. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have provided illustrative examples of market basket calculations in the CMS Proposed Rule, demonstrating how cost weights and vintage weights are determined for the IPPS operating market basket and the Capital Input Price Index, respectively. These calculations are based on Benchmark Input-Output data from 2002.
Market Basket Data for CMS is available for various years, including 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. This data includes information on quarterly index levels and 4-quarter moving average percent changes for Medicare providers.
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Payment updates
Market baskets are a defined set of health expenditures in a defined time period, used by CMS to measure price. Market basket updates are used to adjust payment rates for hospitals. These updates are based on the projected market basket percentage increase, which is then adjusted for productivity. For example, in the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Centre Proposed Rule, CMS proposed updating OPPS payment rates for hospitals meeting quality reporting requirements by 2.4%. This update was based on a projected hospital market basket percentage increase of 3.2%, reduced by a 0.8% productivity adjustment.
Market basket updates also apply to specific types of healthcare facilities and services. For instance, the CY 2026 OPPS/ASC proposed rule includes a plan to extend the use of the hospital market basket update as the update factor for the Ambulatory Surgical Centre (ASC) payment system for one additional year (through CY 2026). This extension is intended to allow CMS to continue studying the migration of outpatient surgical procedures.
Market basket updates can also impact payment rates for specific medical products. For example, CMS may group and pay for skin substitute products based on relevant product characteristics, consistent with their FDA regulatory status. This approach aims to incentivize competition and innovation while generating savings for the Medicare Trust Fund.
Furthermore, market basket updates can be used to adjust payment rates for specific types of healthcare services. For instance, CMS may propose temporary additional payments for certain non-opioid treatments for pain relief in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ASC settings over a specified period.
Market basket updates are an essential tool for CMS to adjust payment rates for hospitals and various healthcare services, ensuring that payments remain aligned with current market conditions and healthcare trends. These updates help maintain a balanced and responsive healthcare reimbursement system.
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Frequently asked questions
A hospital market basket is an input price index used by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to measure changes in the costs of providing inpatient hospital services.
The purpose of a hospital market basket is to help measure and manage the costs of providing inpatient hospital services, particularly those included in the Medicare prospective payment system.
A hospital market basket defines a set of health expenditures within a specific time period, which is then used to measure price changes.
Hospital market baskets are updated periodically, typically every year or two, to reflect changes in costs and ensure accurate measurement.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services play a key role in defining and updating hospital market baskets, ensuring they accurately represent the costs of inpatient hospital services.











































