ACR’s Response to Proposed Physician Medicare Cuts Garners National Media Attention

Dr. Langford

Carol Langford, MD, MHS, president of the ACR, is again making headlines as a leading voice in the fight against proposed Medicare reimbursement cuts that threaten the sustainability of rheumatology practices and patient access to care.

In recent coverage by Healthcare Dive (Sept. 16), Dr. Langford joined other physician leaders in criticizing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Dr. Langford emphasized that the proposed changes “add to the financial burden many practices are already facing” and called for meaningful reform to ensure long-term viability for providers.

Further amplifying this message, Dr. Langford was quoted in Inside Health Policy (Sept.15; subscriber-only), where she outlined the ACR’s formal response to the CMS. The ACR’s comment letter covers several concerns, including:

• Nominal Conversion Factor (CF) Increase: Although the CMS proposes a slight boost, inflation-adjusted Medicare payments have dropped 33% since 2001.
• Code Valuation Changes: A proposed -2.5% efficiency adjustment could undermine access to cognitive specialists, including rheumatologists.
• Telehealth Flexibilities: The ACR applauds the CMS’s efforts to expand telehealth but urges Congress to make these flexibilities permanent.
• Part B Drug Reimbursement: Proposed changes to drug pricing calculations could force small practices to operate at a loss, threatening patient access to care.
• Biosimilar Drug Rebates: Current rebate structures may result in “underwater payments,” placing additional financial strain on providers.

Dr. Langford’s statement in Inside Health Policy captures the urgency of the moment:

“Sooner or later, policymakers must address our outdated and unsustainable Medicare Physician payment system, but unfortunately, this proposed rule doesn’t do it. … Expanded telehealth services have been a positive game-changer for many patients with rheumatic disease. … The time to protect practice sustainability and patient access to high-quality care is now.”

As the healthcare community awaits the CMS’s final rule, Dr. Langford and the ACR continue to advocate for reforms that prioritize both provider sustainability and patient well-being.