This bill changes how Medicare sets the single conversion factor used in the Medicare physician fee schedule. Starting in 2026, the annual update to that conversion factor must equal the Secretary's estimate of the percentage increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). The bill also removes prior language that created two conversion factors through 2025, making a single conversion factor the rule after 2025.
For doctors and clinicians who bill Medicare: the annual update that affects payment rates will follow the MEI beginning in 2026. For Medicare beneficiaries and the public: No publicly available information on direct changes to benefits, costs, or access is included in the bill text or metadata.
No publicly available information on federal costs, savings, or budget estimates is included in the bill text or metadata.
The sponsors introduced the bill to set the single conversion factor update equal to the MEI starting in 2026. No additional statements from sponsors are included in the provided text or metadata.
No publicly available information on opponents' views or stated objections is included in the bill text or metadata.