The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a proposed overhaul of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026, aiming to enhance payment policies and improve efficiency. Key proposals include a 3.6% pay bump for physicians, with specific adjustments that will notably affect specialists and high-value services, including cuts to eye surgery reimbursements. While community oncology groups have highlighted some positive aspects, concerns remain about reimbursement risks tied to skin-substitutes and potential impacts on patient care. Notably, there is an emphasis on expanding virtual care and chronic disease management, as well as the incorporation of new technologies such as scalp cooling for cancer treatments, with a proposed fixed reimbursement price set at $125.38 per square cm for skin substitutes. Various physician groups have voiced that the proposed increases may still fall short of the necessary support for providers amid evolving healthcare demands.