Rules & Regulations: Trick or Treat – CMS releases the final physician fee schedule on Halloween

Why This Topic Matters

The final rule affects reimbursement, practice planning, and program participation across multiple settings and specialties. Readers can use it to understand the scope of CMS payment updates and where the largest operational impacts are likely to occur in 2026 and beyond.

Article Sections

1. New in 2026: 2 conversion factors

   Summarizes the final conversion factor framework for 2026 and distinguishes between broader physician fee schedule and anesthesia payment updates. It also notes the role of APM participation in the final rates.

2. But watch the RVU inputs

   Covers CMS’s final adjustments affecting RVU-based payment calculations, including broader efficiency and practice expense updates. The section highlights how site of service can influence projected payment changes across specialties and selected services.

3. QPP, Shared Savings changes mostly intact from proposed

   Outlines finalized updates to Medicare Shared Savings Program policies, quality measure sets, MIPS-related requirements, MVP changes, and Advanced APM methodology. It also notes CMS requests for information on several future quality and data-exchange topics.