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Thank you for your coverage of the AANEM Annual Meeting. Please join us at the 2025 AANEM Annual Meeting, being held Oct.29-Nov. 1 in San Francisco, California. Journalists covering the annual meeting and posting stories on social media channels are encouraged to use the official meeting hashtag #AANEMinSanFran.
Please review the Abstract Embargo Policy. For questions regarding AANEM Annual Meeting policies, please email communications@aanem.org.

View the latest AANEM Achievement Award winners, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Abstract Award winners, and the latest AANEM news articles on News Express.

Questions? Check out the frequently asked questions below or contact communications@aanem.org. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will be content of abstracts be viewable, as opposed to just the titles?
A: The abstract content will be available at the annual meeting during the Poster Hall hours. We do not provide abstract presenter information or slides ahead of time. All available information can be found in the AANEM Abstract Guide online when it becomes available.

Q: How do I reach out to abstract or session presenters for an interview?
A: We do not offer member contact information. To connect with abstract or session presenters, review the AANEM Annual Meeting Program when available. Find the topics of interest and connect with the presenter after their lecture or during their abstract poster session time. Currently there is no interview option for virtual attendees.

Q: When can I share information?
A: The embargo on the abstracts themselves is lifted when they have been published in Muscle & Nerve and online in the AANEM Abstract Guide. However, the additional information beyond what is in the abstract itself is still embargoed. 

AANEM requires information that goes beyond that which is contained within the abstract, e.g., the release of data not included in the abstract, discussion of the abstract done as part of a scientific presentation, etc. to be embargoed until the start of the annual meeting. Please see the Abstract Embargo Policy.

Q: Will the Abstract Award Reception feature the best posters? 
A: The Abstract Award Reception is a social hour in honor of the abstract award winners where all authors, including award winners, will be available to discuss research. 

Q: Original research is ONLY presented as posters, correct?
A: Yes - the research is presented in the Poster Hall via abstract posters.

CMS Releases Proposed Updates to Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program

Jul 30, 2025, 11:16 by Maggie Schmidt (Admin)
CMS Releases Proposed Updates to Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program
On July 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) proposed rule. AANEM staff are reviewing the nearly 2,000-page rule, but key highlights so far include: 

Conversion Factor Updates
• CMS proposed two new conversion factors for 2026 that will affect AANEM members (as well as two new anesthesia conversion factors) as required by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). 
o $33.5875 (an increase of 3.8% from $32.3465) for qualifying participants (QP) in advanced alternative payment models (APM) 
o $33.4209 (an increase of 3.3% from $32.3465) for all other physicians, including those in MIPS
• Both reflect a temporary, one-year 2.5% update enacted in H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and a .55% budget neutrality adjustment.

Efficiency Adjustment
• CMS proposes a new a -2.5% efficiency adjustment to certain RVUs, primarily affecting surgical specialties, radiology and pathology, resulting in a reduction of overall payment by about 1%.

Indirect Practice Expense (PE) Calculations
• CMS proposes shifting indirect PE calculations, reducing payments to facility-based services by -7% and increasing non-facility payments by 4%.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
• CMS proposes maintaining the 75-point MIPS performance threshold to avoid a MIPS penalty through the CY 2028 performance year/2030 MIPS payment year.

Other Updates to Note
• CMS did not propose a correction to prior overestimated utilization of the office visit add-on code, G2211, which contributed to a substantial cut to the 2024 conversion factor due to budget neutrality requirements.
• CMS does not intend to add the new in 2025 CPT telemedicine E/M codes to the Medicare Telehealth List for 2026.

AANEM staff will continue reviewing the rule and will draft a comment letter in coordination with the AANEM Board of Directors. Once finalized, a summary and link to the letter will be shared via Spark. If you have questions or concerns about the proposed rule, you can email the policy department at policy@aanem.org.