Important provisions for physicians in the Consolidated Appropriations Act

By Jarrod Fowler, MHA
FMA Director of Health Care Policy and Innovation

President Donald Trump recently signed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. Physicians should be aware of some important provisions in the bill, which are summarized below.

• Medicare telehealth extensions: The bill extends the Medicare telehealth flexibilities that were put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of 2027. This means that even if another government shutdown takes place between now and the end of 2027, Medicare telehealth flexibilities will remain in place. While a permanent extension would have been preferable, this extension still provides increased certainty for physicians regarding the practice of medicine via telehealth.
  
  
• Medicare Advantage provider directory enhancements: These will require Medicare Advantage plans to do more to ensure that their provider directories are accurate, including through additional reporting provisions. Research has shown that MA plans have inaccurate directories far too often, which calls into question whether they’re consistently meeting their network adequacy standards or effectively engaging in false advertising. These provisions are a step in the right direction.
  
  
• Alternative Payment Model incentives were restored in the bill for the 2026 performance year. This means that physicians who participate in advanced APMs under Medicare rules will continue having the opportunity to earn incentives without penalizing physicians who do not participate in these models.
  
  
• Also included are pharmacy benefit manager reforms, maternal health provisions, and a virtual expansion of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program. To learn more about provisions included in the bill, read the American Medical Association’s Feb. 6 National Advocacy Update.
  
  

Medicare Shared Savings Program continues generating savings

The Medicare Shared Savings Program saved $4.1 billion last year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The U.S. is now home to 14.3 million patients who are enrolled in ACOs across 511 entities, and analysts have noted that these programs have exhibited continued growth. In short, over the past 12 years, ACOs have gone from being described as amorphous “unicorns” to becoming a ubiquitous part of our healthcare system, with all signs pointing to continued expansion.