Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2026)
Accountable for Health is encouraged that CMS’s 2027 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule recognizes the central role primary care must play in building a stronger, more sustainable Medicare program.
For too long, Medicare payment policy has undervalued the prevention, care coordination, chronic disease management, behavioral health support, and trusted patient relationships that help people stay healthier and avoid more costly care. This proposed rule takes meaningful steps in the right direction by strengthening the Medicare Shared Savings Program, exploring prospective primary care payment, supporting shared medical appointments, better integrating behavior health, and giving ACOs new tools to reduce cost barriers for beneficiaries.
We also appreciate CMS’s attention to how coding and payment policy can better support care delivery, including its request for feedback on the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system. We share the agency’s passion for updating outdated processes that contribute to a sick care system, as opposed to investing in a prevention and wellness oriented one.
These proposals are important steps, but they should be viewed as a foundation for broader structural reforms. A more prevention-oriented Medicare program will require payment policies that give primary care teams and accountable care organizations the flexibility, resources, and financial stability they need to deliver whole-person care at scale. A4H looks forward to working with CMS to build on this rule and advance policies that reward providers for keeping patients healthy, managing complex needs, and improving outcomes while lowering costs.
Contact:
Mara McDermott, CEO of Accountable for Health
mmcdermott@accountableforhealth.org
About Accountable for Health
is a 501(c)(4) national advocacy and policy analysis organization accelerating the adoption of sustainable, effective accountable care that improves health care quality and outcomes and lowers costs. We represent a broad, diverse group of accountable care stakeholders working to improve the way health care is delivered to people across the country, across various payers, programs, and delivery models. A4H provides advocacy, research, and education to improve outcomes and patient experiences while lowering costs.
For more information, visit https://accountableforhealth.org/. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@acct4health). ###
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