New CMS Wound Care Payment Policy Sparks Access Crisis

The survey, published in the Journal of Wound Care, highlights the fallout from the January 2026 CMS mandate that set a standardized payment of approximately $127.14 per square centimeter for CAMPs. Data collected from 130 practices across 36 states suggests the policy fails to account for the operational realities of non-facility providers, such as those operating in rural or home-based settings. Unlike hospital outpatient departments, which may receive separate facility payments, independent providers now face severe financial pressure that threatens their ability to remain open.

Clinicians paint a grim picture of the resulting care landscape. Nearly 60% of respondents reported reduced capacity to treat homebound or medically fragile patients, while 53% noted an increase in coverage denials for patients who otherwise meet eligibility criteria. The consequences are reportedly dire, with 85% of survey participants citing personal narratives of patients suffering from complications like sepsis, limb loss, or increased hospitalization. As the crisis deepens, practitioners are calling for a formal reevaluation of the reimbursement framework to prevent further erosion of essential wound care services.