CMS Releases New WCMSA Reference Guide (Version 4.5)

By Mark Popolizio, J.D., Kate Riordan, J.D.

April 15, 2026 / 1 min read

man and woman reviewing work

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released WCMSA Reference Guide (Version 4.5, April 13, 2026).

CMS notes that the changes made in Version 4.5 include additional ZIP codes added to the table listing major medical centers (Appendix 7).^[1]In addition, CMS notes that the CDC Life Table link has been updated in Section 10.3 of the Reference Guide.^[2]The link contained in this Section takes the reader to the United States Life Tables, 2023, Volume 74, Number 6 (July 15, 2025).^[3]On this point, it is noted that this is the same CDC table that CMS linked to last fall in a separate update. In general, this table correlates a person’s age with anticipated life expectancy, so CMS uses it to determine the appropriate length of medical treatment.

Please do not hesitate to contact the authors if you have any questions about this update or its potential impact regarding WCMSAs.

[1] WCMSA Reference Guide (Version 4.5, April 13, 2025), Section 1.1.

[2] Id.

[3] WCMSA Reference Guide (Version 4.5, April 13, 2025), Section 10.3.