Federal IDR fee guide
Current Federal IDR fees.
The current Federal IDR fee picture starts with the $15 administrative fee per party per dispute, plus the separate certified IDR entity fee charged for deciding the dispute.
Important: This is a general information site about Federal IDR fees under the No Surprises Act. It is not legal, billing, coding, tax, or compliance advice. Always check the current CMS and Federal IDR portal instructions before filing or paying fees.
The two fee buckets
- Federal IDR administrative fee. This is the government administrative fee associated with participating in the Federal IDR process.
- Certified IDR entity fee. This is the fee charged by the certified IDR entity that manages and decides the dispute.
Why the 2026 fee update matters
The administrative fee is $15 per party per dispute for disputes initiated on or after June 11, 2026. Lower administrative fees can make more lower-dollar out-of-network disputes worth evaluating, but the certified IDR entity fee and operating work still matter.
What to check before filing
- Current administrative fee
- Certified IDR entity fee for the selected entity
- Whether the dispute can be batched
- Expected recovery amount
- Open negotiation dates
- Initiation deadline
- Required documentation
- Payment and refund rules
Related IDR fee guides
Current Federal IDR fees
Administrative fees, certified IDR entity fees, and what changed in 2026.
Federal IDR administrative fee
What the government administrative fee is, who pays it, and when it matters.
Certified IDR entity fees
The separate fee paid to the certified IDR entity that decides the dispute.
Who pays IDR fees?
How payment responsibility works and what happens when one side prevails.
Batching and IDR fees
Why batching can change the economics of filing Federal IDR disputes.
IDR fee examples
Simple scenarios for estimating administrative and entity fee exposure.
Refunds and settlements
What to consider when parties settle or ask whether IDR fees are refundable.
Official resources
Use official sources for current Federal IDR fee amounts, certified IDR entity fees, portal instructions, deadlines, and dispute rules. This site is informational and may not reflect every later CMS update.
Managing fees is only one part of the IDR workflow
Federal IDR fees affect dispute economics, but teams also need to track open negotiation windows, initiation deadlines, certified IDR entity selection, evidence, offers, determinations, and payment follow-up.
For teams handling recurring IDR volume, see IDR claims processing automation.
FAQ
What are IDR fees?
IDR fees are the costs associated with using the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution process under the No Surprises Act. They include a government administrative fee and a separate certified IDR entity fee.
What is the current Federal IDR administrative fee?
The Federal IDR administrative fee is $15 per party per dispute for disputes initiated on or after June 11, 2026, according to the 2026 Federal IDR operations rule summarized by CMS-related guidance.
Are certified IDR entity fees separate?
Yes. Certified IDR entity fees are separate from the Federal IDR administrative fee. They are paid to the certified IDR entity that manages and decides the dispute.
Where can I confirm current IDR fees?
Check CMS, the Federal IDR portal, current Federal IDR notices, and the fee schedules for certified IDR entities before filing.