FFFM | 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Key Updates and Advocacy Efforts

In this episode of Fighting for Family Medicine, host David Tully, vice president of Government Relations at the AAFP, speaks with Kate Gilliard, the Academy's senior manager for federal policy and regulatory affairs, about the newly finalized 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule (MPFS). The conversation covers the MPFS' efficiency adjustment policy, adjustments for practice expense and the creation of new add-on codes for advanced primary care management (APCM) services. Topics By Timestamp 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Breaking down the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule 01:14 Understanding the conversion factors 01:59 The catch in the fee schedule 03:07 Efficiency adjustment explained 05:01 Practice expense information 06:44 New add-on codes and cost-sharing 08:43 Conclusion Additional Resources AAFP News: Final 2025 MPFS brings primary care payment boost and other wins AAFP Voices blog post: Some good news for primary care: the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule AAFP executive summary of the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule AAFP News story on the Academy's letter to CMS on the proposed MPFS AAFP advocacy focus: Medicare physician payment AAFP H.R. 1 member resource FPM: What is the RUC? AAFP Medicare physician payment Speak Out campaign AAFP Advocacy Ambassadors Disclaimer: Copyright 2025, AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice. The AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.