Establish Sustainable Medicare Payment Practices

The current system is unsustainable and severely inhibits clinicians' ability to effectively run their practices. The nation is facing a health care workforce crisis, limiting patient access to care, especially among rural, senior, and other vulnerable and underserved populations. Without immediate and substantial reform, clinicians may face difficult decisions about whether it is financially viable to keep their doors open.

Over the last 20 years, clinicians have experienced

  • Nearly 60% increase*

    in practice expenses
    *American Medical Association

  • 33% decrease*

    in Medicare reimbursements
    *American Medical Association

ACC in Action

  • Long-term Medicare reform was a key talking point at ACC Legislative Conference 2025, as cardiovascular clinicians grapple with another year of cuts in 2025 and face proposed structural changes and reductions within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for 2026.
  • The ACC launched grassroots campaigns on several Medicare payment stabilization and reform bills, resulting in thousands of messages from ACC members to their lawmakers.
  • The ACC responded to the Senate Finance Committee’s request for information on necessary reforms to the Medicare payment system to improve care delivery.
  • Member leaders joined other medical specialty societies at a physician event in Washington, DC, urging Congress to address critical issues impacting the medical community including Medicare reform.
  • The ACC joined 13 other medical organizations, signing a statement urging Congress and the administration to address long-term Medicare payment reform.

Policy Progress

  • CMS has released the 2026 Medicare PFS final rule, finalizing many of the structural changes and reductions proposed earlier this year.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a provision providing a 2.5% update to the PFS for 2026. However, this update is now nearly nullified by a –2.5% efficiency adjustment included in the 2026 Medicare PFS proposed rule. The ACC will continue its efforts in seeking long-term reform.
  • The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879/S. 1640) would reverse the 2025 cut to Medicare physician reimbursement and add an inflationary update.

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Next Steps for Telehealth & Long-Term Medicare Payment Reform

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