Federal IDR deadline calculator
Enter the date open negotiation began. We count business days, skipping weekends and federal holidays.
Not legal advice. Estimates only, based on published rules and CMS aggregates. Do not enter patient names or other identifiers. The numbers and dates you enter in this tool stay in your browser and are not sent to us.
Your dates will appear here.
The rules behind the numbers
We read the rules in 45 CFR 149.510 on eCFR, as in effect before June 4, 2026 and as amended by the June 4, 2026 final rule, and the final rule in the Federal Register (91 FR 33900). The calculator uses the rules that apply today: under 45 CFR 149.510(h)(10) the earlier text continues to apply until each new provision's applicability date. "Regulation text" means we read it there. "CMS page" means a CMS web page. "Assumption" means the text we read does not address it.
| Rule | What it says | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open negotiation period | 30 business days. The period begins on the date the open negotiation notice is first sent, and the notice must be sent within 30 business days of receiving the initial payment or denial. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(b)(1), version in effect before June 4, 2026 source |
| Window to initiate IDR | The 4-business-day period beginning on the 31st business day after the start of the open negotiation period. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(b)(2)(i), version in effect before June 4, 2026 source |
| What counts as a business day | The Departments state that business days do not include Federal holidays and weekends. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | Preamble to the June 4, 2026 final rule (91 FR 33900) source |
| Notice sent on a weekend or holiday | The text we read does not say how to count when the notice date is not a business day. We count from the date entered; business day 1 is the next business day. | Assumption | source |
| Choosing the certified IDR entity | The parties agree on an entity within 3 business days after initiation (silence from the other party counts as agreement). If they do not, the Secretary selects one within 6 business days after initiation. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(1), version in effect before June 4, 2026 source |
| Offers and decision | Each party submits its offer within 10 business days after the entity is selected. The entity decides within 30 business days after selection. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(4)(i)-(ii), version in effect before June 4, 2026 source |
| Payment after a determination | Within 30 calendar days of the determination. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(4)(ix) (now (c)(5)(ix)) source |
| Agreement after initiation | If the parties agree on a rate before the entity decides, the initiating party notifies the Departments and the entity within 3 business days. | CMS page read 2026-10-17 | CMS "About Independent Dispute Resolution" page source |
| Cooling-off period | After a determination, the initiating party may not start another dispute against the same party for the same or similar items or services for 90 calendar days. The new rule shortens this to 30 business days after a batched determination, once the new provisions apply. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(4)(vii)(B) (now (c)(5)(vii)(B)) source |
| Administrative fee | $15 per party per dispute for disputes initiated on or after June 11, 2026 ($115 before). Non-refundable, paid when the entity is selected. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(d)(2)(i)-(ii); applicability (h)(6) source |
| Certified IDR entity fee | Allowed range $200 to $840 for a single determination and $268 to $1,173 for a batch, plus $75 to $250 for every additional 25 line items starting with the 26th. Paid by the date each party submits its offer. The entity returns the prevailing party's fee within 30 business days after the determination. Applies to disputes initiated on or after August 3, 2026. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(d)(1), (e)(2)(viii); applicability (h)(6) source |
| Batching today | No numeric item cap in the regulation. All of these must hold: billed by the same provider or group, same facility, or same air ambulance provider; paid by the same plan or issuer; same or similar items and services; all furnished within the same 30-business-day period. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(3)(i), version in effect before June 4, 2026 source |
| Batching under the new rule | Up to 50 items per dispute, with the same provider (same NPI or TIN) or facility, the same plan or issuer, and either one patient encounter, the same or comparable code, or the same Category I CPT range for anesthesiology, radiology, pathology or laboratory, within the same 30-business-day furnishing window. The cap and criteria in (c)(4) apply to disputes whose open negotiation begins 90 calendar days after the Departments announce the new functionality is available. The revised batched-items definition in (a)(2)(i) applies to disputes whose open negotiation begins on or after November 1, 2026. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(c)(4)(i), (a)(2)(i), (h)(1)-(3), as amended June 4, 2026 source |
| New open-negotiation and initiation provisions | Paragraph (b), which adds portal-based open negotiation tracking, applies to disputes whose open negotiation begins 90 calendar days after the Departments announce the functionality is available. Until then the current rules above apply. This calculator does not model the new timing. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(h)(2), (h)(10) source |
| Extensions | The Secretary may extend time periods (except the 30-day payment period) for extenuating circumstances and systemic delays. The modified extension paragraph applies beginning November 1, 2026. | Regulation text read 2026-10-17 | 45 CFR 149.510(g), (h)(9) source |
CMS plans to move Federal IDR to the IDR Gateway in late 2026. New open-negotiation and batching provisions apply once the Departments announce the new functionality is available (90 calendar days after the announcement). Check the CMS notices page for extensions and new procedures.
Want reminders for these dates?
We are building a flat-fee tracker for eligibility, deadlines, batches and payment follow-up. Join the list and we will email you when it opens. No patient information needed.