January 7, 2026
Five Healthcare Policies Affecting Physicians in 2026
Several federal and state healthcare policies are taking effect in 2026, bringing major changes to the physician workforce, hospital operations, reimbursement, insurance and medical school.
- Affordable Care Act enhance subsidies expire: Enhanced premium tax credits expired December 31, leaving missions of marketplace enrollees facing higher premiums in 2026.
- CMS final physician fee schedule for 2026: CMS released its final rule for 2026 Medicare payments under the physician fee schedule.
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act: President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, which included historic cuts to Medicaid and other significant shifts to healthcare policy.
- Changes to prior authorization: starting in 2026, CMS will implement key provisions of the Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule to help modernize prior authorization and reduce administrative burden.
- Changes to visa restrictions and their impact on the workforce: Immigrants make up 27% of physicians and surgeons, 22% of nursing assistants and 16% of registered nurses in the U.S. Foreign physicians and clinicians are an important part of the healthcare workforce, often working in underserved and rural areas.
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