2026 Medicare reimbursement: ‘Inadequate physician payment has real-world consequences,’ AMA says

Medical Economics September 12, 2025
Richard Payerchin, Todd Shryock

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 MPFS could lead to significant payment cuts in primary care, OB/GYN, oncology, and other specialties, impacting physician practices and patient access.
• AMA advocates for inflation-based updates to physician payments to counteract economic pressures and prevent further erosion of Medicare reimbursement.
• Proposed efficiency adjustments and practice expense cuts may unintentionally drive consolidation and reduce competition among healthcare providers.
• Site-neutral payment disparities and inconsistent hospital cost reporting exacerbate challenges for private practice physicians competing with hospital outpatient departments.

Comments published about next year’s Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) could be an opportunity to bolster private practice for physicians and patients’ access to care, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).

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