Clinicians report worsening patient conditions and less access to care

July 17, 2026 – The Medicare Access to Skin Substitutes (MASS) Coalition released findings from a survey of healthcare providers that overwhelmingly see negative effects for patients as a result of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) flat reimbursement rate of $127.14 per square centimeter for skin substitutes. 98% of surveyed clinicians agreed that this unreasonably low reimbursement rate has directly resulted in negative patient outcomes, clearly showing that the current system is not working for manufacturers, physicians, and patients alike.

The survey found that 97% of healthcare providers worry about their patients’ inability to access advanced skin substitutes and believe the new reimbursement rate prevents them from performing procedures to the best of their clinical ability, leaving the highly vulnerable population of Americans suffering from chronic wounds at immediate risk of infection, amputation, and death. Additionally, 78% of clinicians reported delayed treatments for their patients, and 73% have witnessed interrupted treatment regimens for active wounds, showing the immediate negative impact caused by the CY 2026 reimbursement rate.

“This survey shows that healthcare providers overwhelmingly agree with what the MASS Coalition has been saying all along: that CMS’ CY 2026 reimbursement rate for skin substitutes is unsustainable and harmful to patients. Preserving patients’ access to these life-and-limb saving products should come first, and CMS must adjust the CY 2027 rate to ensure that patients are not denied the care they need and deserve,” said Preeya Noronha Pinto, counsel for the MASS Coalition.

The full physician survey can be found here.