Medicare Changes How It Pays Doctors: Rewarding Health Results, Not Just Services

Starting July 2026, Medicare stops paying doctors mainly for the number of visits or tests they provide. Instead, it will pay them based on whether patients actually get healthier. The ten-year program affects chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, requiring doctors to use digital health tools. Commercial insurers have been shifting to this model for years; Medicare's move brings it to scale for the first time.