2026 Candidate Measure Submission Cycle Now Open

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Measures Under Consideration Entry/Review Information Tool (MERIT) is the online tool used to submit quality and efficiency measures for consideration by CMS Medicare programs. Measure developers and stewards use MERIT to enter and submit the required measure information.

The submission period for consideration on the 2026 Measures Under Consideration (MUC) List is open until 8:00 p.m. (ET), May 7, 2026. For questions, please contact MMSsupport@battelle.org.

Please note, CMS prefers fully developed measures. For guidance on fully developed measures, visit the Measure Selection section on the CMS Measures Management System (MMS) Hub. 

Helpful Resources

• MERIT Data Template – Outlines required data fields for 2026 submissions in a Word document
• CMS MERIT Submitter’s Quick Start Guide – Step-by-step guidance for using MERIT
• Pre-Rulemaking Resources – Includes examples of completed peer-reviewed journal templates
• Pre-Rulemaking Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Answers to common questions about the submission process and requirements.