OPPS Drug Acquisition Cost Survey to begin January 1

CMS is preparing to conduct the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Drug Acquisition Cost Survey (ODACS) to collect specific acquisition costs for outpatient drugs and biologicals purchased by hospitals paid under the OPPS. The agency established the survey in the 2026 OPPS final rule in response to a recent executive order.

The ODACS is set to run from January 1 to March 31, 2026, and CMS will conduct the survey via the Fee-for-Service Data Collection System. The agency will take the survey results into consideration when determining future payment rates and policies, beginning with the upcoming 2027 OPPS proposed rule.

Hospitals that received OPPS payments for outpatient drugs between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, must complete the survey and report all payable outpatient drugs purchased during this period, according to CMS. A list of the National Drug Codes (NDC) for which the agency is collecting will be available in a template within the Survey Data Collection System. For each outer NDC, hospitals will need to report the total units purchased and total net acquisition costs for both 340B and non-340B drugs.

Hospitals with Part B claims meeting certain criteria were identified as candidate survey participants and notified beginning in September. CMS released a fact sheet to help hospitals prepare for registration and data submission ahead of the survey’s launch, and it is also hosting a webinar on December 11 to provide additional information and support. Revenue integrity professionals can view CMS’ FAQs for more details on ODACS data collection, calculation, and more.