In Episode 12 of Reimbursement Readiness: Business Tips for Wound Practice, Kathleen Schaum unpacks the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule—a document that determines how physicians and qualified healthcare professionals (QHPs) will be paid in the coming year. She explains how this 2,000-page rule shapes the final payment policies for services, procedures, and products, and highlights key changes across telehealth, surgical services, chronic care, and, most importantly, cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs) for skin wounds. Kathleen also clarifies the distinction between the MPFS and the final rule itself, showing how conversion factors and relative value units translate to real-world reimbursement rates.Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how 2026 payment updates affect both the application and product sides of CTP reimbursement. Kathleen explains why non-facility rates are increasing while facility rates are decreasing, and how CMS is introducing a single national allowable rate of $127.28 per square centimeter for most CTPs—with exceptions for BLA-approved and non-sheet products. She also emphasizes the importance of reviewing payer-specific coverage policies, reminding providers that a listed code or rate does not guarantee payment. The episode concludes with guidance on where to access the official Medicare links and an invitation to join Kathleen and Dr. Alton Johnson for a Wound Care Today USA Learning Live event covering CTP strategies for 2026.

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