Episode 45

Washington Watch: Primary Care Payment Changes, WISeR Model Updates, Hospital Merger Scrutiny

Episode Description

Join hosts Chad Mulvany and Shawn Stack as they share the latest healthcare policy and legislative updates for the week of September 30, 2026. First, they discuss a recent statement from the Federal Trade Commission that signals tougher scrutiny of hospital mergers and what it could mean for organizations pursuing consolidation.

Then, they look at proposed provisions in the 2027 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule that would shift reimbursement from specialists to primary care providers and explore how health systems may need to adjust their physician compensation plans. They also touch on recent congressional activity surrounding physician payment and the prospects for future legislation.

Later in the episode, they’re joined by Ryan Rozwat, director on the Healthcare Consulting team at Forvis Mazars, to discuss CMS’ Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model pilot. Ryan shares his perspective on operational challenges for providers in the pilot’s first year and what the future may hold for AI-supported prior authorization processes.

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