It’s time to compensate physicians for the value they deliver—not punish them with cuts that drive them out of the market.
Specialist physicians will receive a significant pay cut from Medicare next year. That’s the main takeaway from the 2026 physician fee schedule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October.
For years, physician reimbursement from Medicare has stagnated, even declined. Doctors are responding by leaving the profession or limiting the number of patients they’ll see, particularly those covered by public health plans like Medicare.
Congress needs to fundamentally change how Medicare pays doctors. Failing to do so will deprive countless patients—especially seniors—of timely access to care.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Medicare’s Paltry Doctor Payments Are Price Controls In Disguise
Sally C. Pipes
It’s time to compensate physicians for the value they deliver—not punish them with cuts that drive them out of the market.
Specialist physicians will receive a significant pay cut from Medicare next year. That’s the main takeaway from the 2026 physician fee schedule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in October.
For years, physician reimbursement from Medicare has stagnated, even declined. Doctors are responding by leaving the profession or limiting the number of patients they’ll see, particularly those covered by public health plans like Medicare.
Congress needs to fundamentally change how Medicare pays doctors. Failing to do so will deprive countless patients—especially seniors—of timely access to care.
Read the entire op-ed here.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.