Every January, orthopedic practices face the same pressure: new CPT codes took effect on the first, payer fee schedules have been updated, and any billing template or charge master that was not refreshed before the year started is already generating claims that will be denied or paid at the wrong rate.

For orthopedic practices, 2026 is not just another update year. It is a reset. Decisions about where care is delivered have always mattered clinically. Now they matter financially just as much. Medicare payment policy has made site of service a direct driver of reimbursement, and practices that do not adapt will feel it in quieter but very real ways.

At first glance, Medicare’s finalized conversion factor increase for 2026 looks like good news for orthopedic practices. Higher rates should mean higher revenue.

Let's start with where podiatry coding and reimbursement stand now that 2026 is well underway, and what the proposed 2027 fee schedule means for your practice.

Presented by ADS and ADSRCM, leading sources of services and automated systems for Orthopedics.

With personal injury patients (PIPs), every case has two timelines: the legal journey toward settlement and the financial journey toward full reimbursement. Managing the revenue cycle in PIP cases means ensuring that every service provided, every expense incurred, and every authorization obtained is tracked and billed accurately — from the day of the accident to the day funds hit your account.

Orthopedic practices are often on the front line of treating personal injury patients (PIP), workers’ compensation (WC), and no-fault (NF) cases. From fractures to complex spinal surgeries, these cases frequently involve high-value procedures and extended treatment plans.

EHR systems are undergoing significant transformations in 2025 as the healthcare industry continues to evolve.