Policy & oversight
Twelve Days Remain to File Comments on Medicare's Proposed 2027 Doctor Payment Rule, Which Would Cut Pay and Restrict Home Monitoring Billing
The 60-day public comment window on CMS's proposed 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule closes September 14. Key proposals include an estimated 1.7 percent net payment reduction for most doctors and new limits on how remote patient monitoring services are billed.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamSeptember 2, 2026
The public has until September 14, 2026, to submit written comments to CMS on its proposed physician payment rule for calendar year 2027. CMS published the rule in the Federal Register on July 16 and invited comment from patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders before finalizing rates and policies later this fall.
The rule proposes to update the non-alternative payment model conversion factor by 0.25 percent for 2027, while doctors in qualifying alternative payment models would receive a 0.75 percent update. CMS estimates that after other adjustments in the payment formula, most physicians not in an APM would see a net payment reduction of approximately 1.7 percent compared with 2026 rates.
September 14 is the last day to comment on Medicare's proposed 2027 physician payment rule. It would reduce most doctors' pay and restrict home monitoring services to in-house clinical staff only.
The proposal also includes new restrictions on remote physiologic monitoring, a service that allows doctors to track patients' vital signs and other health data from home. Under the proposal, billing for these monitoring services would be limited to clinical staff who are direct employees of the billing practice. Currently, practices can use contracted third-party monitoring vendors. If finalized, the restriction would affect Medicare patients managing chronic conditions such as heart failure and diabetes who rely on home monitoring programs administered through outside companies.
A separate provision would reduce payment to 50 percent for a procedure or evaluation visit when a physician furnishes two separately billable services on the same day.
The final rule is expected this fall. Comments can be filed at regulations.gov, referencing file code CMS-1848-P.
In plain words
CMS wants to change how it pays doctors in Medicare starting in 2027. You have until September 14 to share your thoughts. The plan would lower most doctors' pay by about 1.7 percent. It would also change the rules for remote health monitoring. Right now, your doctor's office can hire an outside company to watch your health data from home, like your heart rate or blood sugar. Under this plan, only staff who work directly for your doctor could do that job. This could affect people with heart disease, diabetes, and other long-term health conditions. CMS will decide on the final rule this fall.
Understand the basics first
Source: Federal Register
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