What is the Federal IDR Operations Rule?
Verdict Consulting Group Research · Updated
Answer
The Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations rule is a final rule published at 91 FR 33900 on June 4, 2026, effective August 3, 2026, and corrected at 91 FR 55462 on August 28, 2026. It revises how No Surprises Act IDR runs, covering CARC/RARC codes, open negotiation, batching, a $15 administrative fee and plan registration.
Detail
Key details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Citation | 91 FR 33900 (FR Doc. 2026-11140) |
| Published | June 4, 2026 |
| Effective | August 3, 2026 |
| Correction | 91 FR 55462 (FR Doc. 2026-17622), August 28, 2026; fixes typographical errors and omissions in regulation text |
| Identifiers | CMS-9897-F; TD 10049 |
| Agencies | HHS (CMS), Labor (EBSA), Treasury (IRS), OPM |
When the main provisions apply
| Provision | Applies |
|---|---|
| $15 administrative fee per party | Disputes initiated on or after June 11, 2026 |
| QPA disclosure changes; bundled payment definition | August 3, 2026 |
| Batching (50 line items, three categories) | Open negotiation periods beginning on or after November 1, 2026 |
| CARC/RARC codes on remittance advice | Items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2027 |
| Open negotiation, initiation, entity selection, IDR Registry | Tied to IDR Gateway functionality announcements |
For a fuller walkthrough, read What changed in the 2026 Federal IDR Operations Rule.
Read the analysis
Sources
- Federal Register — Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations, 91 FR 33900 ()
- Federal Register — Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations; Correction, 91 FR 55462 ()
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — Federal IDR Operations Final Rules Implementation Timeline Guide ()
General information only, not legal advice. Verdict Consulting Group is not a law firm.