CMS Releases 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on October 31. The rule includes several important updates for telehealth and virtual care providers.
Key Highlights:
- Virtual Supervision of Residents:
CMS will permanently allow teaching physicians to supervise residents virtually for telehealth services in all training locations. This decision reverses a proposal that would have ended virtual supervision payments after 2025—a major win for medical education and access to care. - In-Person Requirement for FQHCs and RHCs:
Beginning October 1, 2025, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) will once again be required to meet the behavioral health in-person visit requirement, aligning with Congressional policy. The previous waiver, which extended through December 31, 2025, will now end earlier under this final rule.
The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has released a Fact Sheet with additional details and analysis on these policy changes.