ACC releases calculator for payments based on 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule

August 1, 2026 - 02:51

The American College of Cardiology has rolled out a new online calculator designed to help cardiology practices estimate their payment changes under the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The tool lets users input their specific service mix and payer volume to project how the updated conversion factor and relative value unit adjustments might affect their bottom line.

According to the ACC, the calculator is meant to give practices a practical head start on budgeting and contract negotiations, rather than waiting for final rulemaking later this year. The 2027 proposed rule includes several significant shifts, including revised work values for many cardiac testing and interventional procedures, plus a continued focus on care coordination codes.

The ACC says the calculator accounts for both the global and professional component billing scenarios, and it allows users to toggle between different geographic adjustment factors. That feature is particularly useful for practices with multiple locations across different Medicare administrative contractors.

The tool also includes a built-in comparison to the current 2026 baseline, so practices can see the net change per code, per visit, or across their entire annual volume. The ACC notes that the calculator is not a substitute for formal billing analysis, but it is designed to be a quick, accessible starting point for financial planning.

The release comes as many cardiology groups are still adjusting to the final 2026 rule, which already trimmed payments for some office-based procedures. With the 2027 proposal now on the table, the ACC is encouraging practices to run their own numbers early and submit comments during the public comment period, which remains open until early March. The final rule is expected later this fall.