The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is a medical society comprised of hospitalists that exists to promote exceptional care for hospitalized patients.
Get up to speed with the latest in advocacy news, including the Practice Expense cuts, the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule final rule, a recap of Hill Day, and health policies included in the shutdown bill. Read the November newsletter here.
On October 16, SHM members visited Capitol Hill, advocating for and educating on issues important to hospital medicine, including supporting immigrant hospitalists, fixing access to SNF care, and reforming prior authorization.
Hospitalists face an estimated 7% cut to their Medicare reimbursement due to the PE reduction. This will significantly decrease available resources for patient-focused quality improvement efforts, innovation, and clinician recruitment, which are all critical for purposes of delivering high quality care and maintaining patient access. Congress must act immediately to stop this arbitrary cut prior to its implementation on January 1, 2026. Read letter.
Aetna’s proposed inpatient claims process presents as reducing administrative burden, it effectively redefines inpatient and observation, undermining statutory protections and Medicare’s own coverage rules. Read letter.
This legislation would provide much-needed stability and certainty to Hospital at Home Programs by extending waiver flexibilities through 2030 — thereby avoiding another cliff that Hospital at Home programs are currently experiencing after the current authorities expired on September 30, 2025. Read letter.
SHM joins the AMA and 54 national medical groups requesting physicians be exempt from the new, higher H-1B filing fees per the National Interest Waiver language within the September 19th Presidential proclamation. Read letter.
Join SHM in taking action to try and stop the upcoming -7% cut to hospitalists’ Medicare reimbursements. Take a few minutes to send a message to Congress indicating that these cuts would be disastrous for hospital medicine groups, particularly independent groups and those that work in rural and underserved areas. Take action now.
CMS updated its telemedicine policy, including changes to the frequency limitations for use in subsequent hospital visits.
Learn more about the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and the Quality Payment Program – and what it looks like for hospitalists.
Learn how to seek or renew DEA registration, which allows providers to prescribe buprenorphine to treat patients with Opioid Use Disorder. Updated April 2023