Medicare proposed rule for 2026: CMS, what are you doing to us?

Author(s)Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, Mark Painter

Fact checked by: Benjamin P. Saylor, Strategic Content Lead

"Based on this proposal, some shifts may significantly impact the practice of urology," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for the Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), which outlines proposed payment policies for the care of Medicare beneficiaries. Some significant changes are proposed, continuing the trend of shifting money away from surgical specialists and toward primary care providers.