Washington – September 17, 2026 -- The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) submitted a formal comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opposing proposed payment cuts in the calendar year 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, warning the changes could accelerate consolidation among independent orthopaedic practices.
AAOS demands CMS preserve current work RVUs for major joint procedures
The letter urges CMS to maintain calendar year 2026 work relative value units (RVUs) for total shoulder, total hip, and total knee arthroplasty services, along with shoulder hemiarthroplasty. AAOS argues that reducing these values would compound years of what it calls inadequate payment updates and rising practice costs.
Group seeks withdrawal of proposed 50% cut to same-day E/M and procedural billing
AAOS is calling on CMS to withdraw a proposed 50% reduction for separately identifiable same-day office or outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) services performed alongside procedural care. The association also asked the agency to refrain from finalizing further practice-expense methodology changes until it produces sufficient data analyzing the impact on independent physician practices.
More than 5,000 letters sent to Congress and CMS by AAOS members
AAOS members have submitted over 5,000 letters to Congress and CMS opposing the proposed rule, part of a coordinated advocacy push the organization says is aimed at protecting independent practice viability and patient access to timely orthopaedic care.
AAOS President calls current payment environment the most severe in 30 years
AAOS President Wilford Gibson, MD, FAAOS, told Becker's Spine Review, "This is one of the most dangerous and severe situations I've seen in the 30-plus years I've been in orthopaedic practice." The association contends that stacking new cuts on top of recent Medicare payment reductions will make it increasingly difficult for independent orthopaedic practices to remain financially viable.