MedPAC Continues Review of Physician Payment Reforms
Physician payment reforms, MIPS challenges and value-based care took center stage at MedPAC’s October meeting.
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ACR Backs Medicare Local Coverage Determination Reform Bills
Sept. 10, 2026
This article was updated Oct. 1 2026 to reflect introduction of Senate LCD reform legislation.
ACR® continues to support congressional efforts to improve Medicare's Local Coverage Determination (LCD) process. Building on House action earlier this year, bipartisan legislation has now been introduced in the Senate to increase transparency, stakeholder engagement and timeliness in Medicare coverage decisions.
The Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act S.5475 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark).
As part of its leadership role in the Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC) Engagement Coalition, ACR® joined more than 30 national healthcare organizations in supporting H.R. 8500, the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act of 2026. In August, the coalition sent a letter thanking Reps. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) for introducing the legislation and advancing Medicare coverage reform.
ACR remains committed to working with coalition partners, Congress and CMS to modernize Medicare coverage policies and ensure patients have timely access to innovative, evidence-based care.
For more information or if you have questions, contact Alicia Blakey, ACR Manager of Economic Policy, or Ashley Walton, ACR Director of Government Affairs.
