2026 State Policy Trends
ACR announces anticipated issues before state legislatures in 2026.
Read moreThe Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) discussed issues relating to the Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) programs during its April 10 meeting, including longstanding concerns about the lack of inflationary updates applied to Medicare reimbursement to adequately pay for physician services. MedPAC is an independent congressional agency established to advise Congress about issues affecting the Medicare program.
During the meeting, MedPAC voted to adopt two draft recommendations for inclusion in its June Report to Congress:
MedPAC staff also provided a presentation to commissioners about the use and payment of artificial intelligence via software delivered over the internet. Commissioners said while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should promote access and innovation, it is important to measure quality and outcomes to determine what additional benefit is being provided to the beneficiaries.
Continuing their work on MA, commissioners discussed the use of supplemental benefits, citing the difficulties in assessing the value provided by the $83 billion Medicare spends on these extra benefits (such as vision, dental and gym memberships). They expressed support for some alternative approaches to potentially standardize payment policies without sacrificing innovation or improvements provided by individualized care.
For more information or if you have questions, contact Kimberly Greck, American College of Radiology® Senior Economic Policy Analyst.
2026 State Policy Trends
ACR announces anticipated issues before state legislatures in 2026.
Read moreState Department Expanding Online Reviews of Visa Applicants
The State Department will expand online reviews to all H‑1B/H‑4 visa applicants, possibly delaying approvals and impacting healthcare professionals.
Read moreNew NIH Application Policies
NIH ends Letters of Intent, prior approval for large budgets, shifts funding notices to Grants.gov, and updates peer review processes.
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