News

We’re pleased to share several significant advocacy wins for interventional radiology in the recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) calendar year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule, reflecting the substantial impact of SIR’s members, volunteers, and staff engagement.

• Lower extremity revascularization (LER)—46 new codes: CMS finalized the work relative value units (RVUs) and direct practice expense (PE) inputs for all codes in the LER family. Significantly, after considering comments from SIR and others, CMS increased reimbursement for two drug-coated balloon supplies and two drug-eluting tibial stent supplies. CMS also finalized the inclusion of a new supply pack for angiography services, a direct result of advocacy and detailed feedback.

• Endovascular therapy with imaging: Following SIR and other stakeholder input, CMS revised its proposals and finalized the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC)-recommended work RVUs (wRVUs). Additionally, CMS reversed its initial proposal and accepted the RUC-recommended values for the vascular interventional technologist clinical time, another major win for the IR community.

• Prostate biopsy: CMS finalized the RUC-recommended wRVUs and direct PE inputs, ensuring accurate valuation and recognition of the work involved in these procedures.

• Quality Payment Program (QPP) updates: CMS finalized the IR Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) as a voluntary reporting option starting in the 2026 performance period. The agency also expanded the IR specialty measure set by adding seven new quality measures, reflecting feedback from SIR and other key stakeholders, further strengthening IR’s voice in quality reporting.

• Residents in teaching settings: CMS permanently finalized a policy allowing teaching physicians to have a virtual presence during services provided in all teaching settings, when performed as a three-way telehealth visit (teaching physician, resident, and patient in different locations). Teaching physicians can now participate virtually in key portions of telehealth services using real-time audio/video communications, improving flexibility and access in residency training.

Thank you to our members, volunteers and staff!

These wins are a direct result of collective advocacy, expertise and feedback from our society. Your engagement continues to drive positive change in interventional radiology and for the patients we serve.

Read the SIR summary.