The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its final rule for the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Oct. 31, announcing policy updates that take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Among the changes is a new oral health–related quality improvement activity within the merit-based incentive payment system, a program primarily for Medicare-participating physicians.
The merit-based incentive payment system is a Medicare program that adjusts reimbursement for participating physicians based on quality, cost, improvement activities, and use of electronic health records. Under the 2026…