CMS Finalizes Digital Health Proposals in 2026 Physician Fee Schedule

On October 31, 2025, CMS released the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) which sets payment policies for the upcoming year. CMS is finalizing the following telehealth policies:

• Permanently removing frequently limitations for subsequent inpatient visits, subsequent nursing facility visits, and critical care consultations;
• Permanently adopting a definition of direct supervision that allows physicians/supervising practitioner to provide supervision via real-time audio and visual interactive telecommunications;
• Permanently allowing teaching physicians to have a virtual presence in teaching settings in clinical instances;
• Adding several services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List, such as multiple-family group psychotherapy; and
• Modifying the process to add services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List

CMS is also finalizing other digital health policies, including expanding access to digital mental health treatment (DMHT) devices to include payment for devices used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Additionally, CMS is reviewing responses on comment solicitation regarding separate coding and payment for services describing digital tools used by practitioners as part of a mental health treatment plan of care.