Changes in Medicare 2026: A big change is on the way that will affect millions of people using Medicare. Starting in 2026, a new rule will begin that says doctors have to get approval before they give certain treatments to patients. This is called prior authorization, and it’s something Medicare hasn’t really used before in such a big way. Medicare Advantage plans already do this, but this time it will start for regular Medicare too.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is doing this because they want to stop care that is not needed and save money. They think this approval step will help make sure people only get treatments that are useful. CMS believes it will help cut down on waste in the system and make care better at the same time. In 2022, Medicare paid around $5.8 billion for treatments that were not useful, and that’s why they want to test this new way.
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Where the Program Will Start?
The test program will begin in six states on January 1, 2026. These states are:
- Arizona
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Washington
In these places, doctors will have to send a request to CMS and wait for approval before giving some services. It won’t be every service, but only the ones CMS chooses.
The idea is to see if this new rule can make care better, help doctors focus on what matters, and avoid giving treatments that don’t help. A CMS spokesperson said, “Patients deserve treatments that are effective and necessary.” They also said this test is about making sure the Medicare program stays strong and safe for everyone.
What you have to know
If you depend on Medicare, you are encouraged to:
- Stay updated on which treatments in your state need before approval.
- Schedule doctor visits early to avoid delays.
- Talk to your doctor about how this might affect your care.
- If you are denied, use the Medicare appeal process to challenge this decision.
Some people worry this new system might slow things down. There are concerns that older people who need care quickly could have to wait longer if doctors have to ask for permission first. One expert from the Kaiser Family Foundation said, “There is a real concern that the bureaucracy involved in prior authorization will delay access to care for some patients, especially older adults with urgent needs.” So there’s a lot of attention on how fast and smooth this system will work.
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CMS says they will keep track of everything to make sure things are going well. They plan to test it until 2031, so that gives them enough time to see if it helps or not. If the test goes well, this way of getting approval before treatment could spread across the country.
