ACR Releases Summary of MedPAC March Report to Congress

ACR^® released a detailed summary of key topics in the 2026 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) March Report to Congress. The report reviews national spending trends, how Medicare assesses payment adequacy and updates on fee for service Medicare. It also includes an update on the Medicare Advantage program.

MedPAC recommends Congress focus on keeping payment rates stable and supporting hospitals that care for large numbers of low income patients.

Physician Payment Recommendation

• For 2027, Congress should increase payment rates for physicians and other health professional services by 0.5 percentage points more than current law.

Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Recommendations

• For 2027, update the 2026 Medicare base payment rates for general acute care hospitals by the amount specified in current law.
• Implement the Medicare Safety Net Index (MSNI) described in MedPAC's March 2023 report, with $1 billion added to the MSNI pool.

MedPAC is a non partisan, independent commission that advises Congress on Medicare issues. Its annual March report helps shape future Medicare policy and informs lawmakers about trends affecting patient care and provider payments.

For more information or if you have questions, contact Kimberly Greck, ACR Senior Economic Policy Analyst or Christina Berry, ACR Manager, Economic Policy.