Inadequate pricing threatens patient access to care

 July 8, 2026 – The Medicare Access to Skin Substitutes (MASS) Coalition released findings from two comprehensive economic analyses that directly call into question the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) national flat reimbursement rate of $127.14 per square centimeter for skin substitutes. The concurrent studies, conducted by Berkeley Research Group (BRG) and ATI Advisory, provide definitive evidence that the newly implemented payment rate falls drastically below the actual economic costs required to develop, manufacture, safely handle, and distribute skin substitutes to healthcare providers and thus threatens patients’ access to care.

The analyses found the appropriate provider reimbursement rate for skin substitutes ranges from at least $282 to $504 per square centimeter, 121-296% higher than the new Medicare reimbursement rate of $127.14. The methodology incorporated industry cost data from multiple wound care manufacturers, supported by interviews with manufacturers, distributors and providers of wound care treatments.

“The MASS Coalition has repeatedly expressed concern about the unsustainability of CMS’ CY 2026 reimbursement rate for skin substitutes, and this data definitively shows how Medicare’s payment rate is completely untenable for wound care companies and providers who serve patients with chronic wounds. We urge CMS to take into account research, manufacturing and distribution costs in setting the 2027 payment rate in its upcoming rulemaking to preserve patients’ access to life-and-limb saving products,” said Preeya Noronha Pinto, counsel for the MASS Coalition.

The ATI Advisory study can be found here and the BRG study can be found here.