2026 Physician Fee Schedule, HOPPS Final Rules May Be Delayed Due to Government Shutdown

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) final rules, which are typically released in early November, may be delayed due to the U.S. federal government shutdown. Please note that, even if the 2026 final rules are delayed, their effective date will still be Jan. 1, 2026.

ASNC members should prepare for final rules with potentially significant impacts on 2026 Medicare payments. As ASNC previously reported, the proposed rules included a new “efficiency adjustment,” which would result in a 2.5 percent reduction to nearly all MPFS services, as well as a steep payment cut to CPT code 78803, which is used for PYP/amyloid imaging. In comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ASNC opposed both proposals, emphasizing that neither proposal should be finalized.

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