Senate Bill Adds 2.5% Physician Pay Increase After Advocacy from NANS and 70+ Physician-Led Organizations

Physicians may get a 2.5% Medicare payment increase in 2026, thanks to new language added to the Senate’s budget legislation—an important win for clinicians after sustained advocacy efforts.

The update follows a joint letter sent by more than 70 leading medical organizations, including NANS, urging the Senate to include key Medicare payment reforms originally passed by the House in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). At the forefront was a provision to tie physician payments to the Medicare Economic Index, a change long supported by the physician community to stabilize the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
 
While the Senate previously omitted any physician pay adjustment, the Friday night version of the bill included the single-year 2.5% bump following renewed lobbying from this coalition of medical societies.
 
NANS remains committed to advocating for permanent reforms that support independent practices and protect patient access to care—especially in rural and underserved communities.