Congress keeps rewriting retirement. PRIA tracks every bill the day it moves.

CMS proposes CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changes effective on or after January 1, 2027. The rule would lower proposed conversion factors compared with CY 2026, adjust payments for same-day E/M visits and global procedures, revise the E/M complexity add-on into percentage-based modifiers, and tighten payment rules for remote monitoring services. Impacts are most direct for healthcare providers, with indirect effects on Medicare beneficiaries’ access, cost sharing, and care coordination.

CMS proposes CY 2027 Medicare Shared Savings Program changes aimed at strengthening ACO participation, rebalancing incentives between BASIC Level E and ENHANCED tracks, and improving benchmark methodology. The proposal could increase payments for some ACOs, especially those serving higher-risk or rural populations, while seeking savings for Medicare Trust Funds. Public comments are due by the close of the 60-day comment period.

CMS announced a proposed Medicare rule to expand accountable care, update physician payment policies, and transition clinicians from traditional MIPS reporting toward MIPS Value Pathways. The proposal could improve care coordination and preventive care for people with Original Medicare, potentially allow some ACOs to reduce beneficiary out-of-pocket costs starting with applications approved April 1, 2027, and change payment and reporting rules for healthcare providers.

CMS announced emergency healthcare resources and flexibilities for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Bavi. The actions include retroactive provider waivers, Medicaid and CHIP disaster tools, dialysis support, Medicare equipment replacement, Medicare Part D out-of-network pharmacy and refill flexibility, and limited HIPAA-related emergency waivers.

SSA announced it will help parents enroll newborns in Trump Accounts by adding information and processes to Social Security number enrollment at birth. Eligible U.S. citizen children born from 2025 through 2028 with valid Social Security numbers may receive a one-time $1,000 Treasury contribution, with deposits beginning July 4, 2026.

CMS proposed CY 2027 updates to Medicare hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center payment policies. Major proposals include 2.4% payment rate updates, expanded site-neutral payment for certain off-campus imaging services, lower payment for 340B-acquired drugs, a faster 340B remedy offset for non-drug services, continued phase-out of the Inpatient Only list, hospital quality reporting changes, and an RFI on hospital price transparency. Several provisions are projected to lower Medicare beneficiary premiums, drug payments, and cost sharing, while changing payments to hospitals and ASCs.

CMS announced a CY 2027 proposed rule that would change Medicare outpatient and ambulatory surgical center payment policies to lower beneficiary drug costs, reduce site-of-care payment differences for certain imaging, expand utilization management for selected services, and seek input on hospital price transparency. CMS estimates significant savings for Original Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers if the proposals are finalized.

SSA announced that newborns born in the United States between July 2 and December 31, 2026 may receive a limited-edition Freedom 250 commemorative Social Security card through the standard Enumeration at Birth process. The card has the same legal function as a standard Social Security card, requires no separate application or payment, and will not be available for replacements or duplicates.