--- title: "MPFS, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule | MedTech Terms" description: "Medicare's payment system for physician professional services. Plain-English Reimbursement definition for MedTech teams, with examples and related terms." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule#term", "name": "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule", "alternateName": "MPFS", "description": "MPFS pays physicians and certain non-physician practitioners using a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) - each CPT code carries Relative Value Units (RVUs) for work, practice expense, and malpractice, multiplied by an annual conversion factor.", "url": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule", "termCode": "physician-fee-schedule", "inDefinedTermSet": { "@type": "DefinedTermSet", "name": "MedTech Terms", "url": "https://medtechterms.com/terms" } }, { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule#article", "headline": "MPFS, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule", "description": "Medicare's payment system for physician professional services.", "url": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule" }, "about": { "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule#term" }, "articleSection": "Reimbursement", "inLanguage": "en", "keywords": "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MPFS, Reimbursement, medical device, MedTech", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "jobTitle": "Founder, Blue Goat Cyber", "url": "https://bluegoatcyber.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "MedTech Terms", "url": "https://medtechterms.com" }, "isPartOf": { "@type": "WebSite", "name": "MedTech Terms", "url": "https://medtechterms.com" }, "datePublished": "2026-05-05", "dateModified": "2026-05-05", "citation": [ { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "CMS PFS", "url": "https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CMS" } }, { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "AdvaMed - Payment & Coverage", "url": "https://www.advamed.org/our-work/", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "AdvaMed" } }, { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "AMA CPT Resources", "url": "https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "AMA" } } ], "mentions": [ { "@type": "DefinedTerm", "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/cpt-codes#term", "name": "CPT Codes", "alternateName": "CPT", "url": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/cpt-codes" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://medtechterms.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Terms", "item": "https://medtechterms.com/terms" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Reimbursement", "item": "https://medtechterms.com/terms?cat=Reimbursement" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule", "item": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://medtechterms.com/terms/physician-fee-schedule#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does MPFS affect MedTech manufacturers?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The MPFS influences how much physicians are paid for procedures involving medical devices, which can indirectly impact device adoption and market access. Manufacturers need to consider the economic implications for providers when developing and commercializing new technologies." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are RVUs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Relative Value Units (RVUs) are a core component of the MPFS, representing the resources involved in providing a physician service. RVUs are assigned for physician work, practice expense, and malpractice, and these are multiplied by a conversion factor to determine payment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who sets RVU values?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) plays a significant role in recommending RVU values for new and existing Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes to CMS. CMS then makes the final determination during the annual rulemaking process for the MPFS." } } ] } ] } --- [ MedTech Terms The authoritative reference ](/) Browse Learn [Latest](/latest) About 1. [Home](/) 2. / 3. [Terms](/terms) 4. / 5. [Reimbursement](/terms?cat=Reimbursement) 6. / 7. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule [All terms](/terms) Reimbursement [Hospital Buyer & Reimbursement](/ecosystems/hospital-buyer)MPFS # Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Medicare's payment system for physician professional services. Reviewed by [Christian Espinosa, Founder, Blue Goat Cyber](/authors/christian-espinosa) Last reviewed May 5, 2026 ## Definition MPFS pays physicians and certain non-physician practitioners using a Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) - each [CPT](/terms/cpt-codes) code carries Relative Value Units (RVUs) for work, practice expense, and malpractice, multiplied by an annual conversion factor. What the regulation says The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and dictates reimbursement for physician services, as outlined in the Social Security Act. It is updated annually through rulemaking, generally published as the Medicare PFS Final Rule, which includes updates to the Relative Value Units (RVUs) and the conversion factor. While not a direct MedTech regulation, understanding the MPFS is crucial for manufacturers because it influences market access and adoption of medical devices and diagnostics. ## What this means in practice RVU values for new device-enabled procedures shape physician adoption economics. The annual PFS rule and AMA RUC valuations are critical. ## Examples - A company developing a novel surgical robot needs to understand the RVUs assigned to the CPT codes for procedures performed with their device, as this impacts surgeon reimbursement and adoption. - Before launching a new diagnostic test, a MedTech firm analyzes the existing MPFS reimbursement for similar tests and anticipates how their new test might be coded and valued. - A manufacturer educates physicians on the appropriate documentation for new device-enabled procedures to ensure accurate CPT coding and optimal MPFS reimbursement. Common pitfalls - • A common pitfall is assuming that device reimbursement directly follows the MPFS, when in fact the MPFS primarily covers physician services, not the device itself. - • Misunderstanding the annual update cycle can lead to outdated financial projections for market entry of new technologies. - • Failing to engage with the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) process can result in unfavorable RVU assignments for novel procedures utilizing MedTech products. - • Another mistake is neglecting the impact of MPFS on physician practice economics, which can affect their willingness to adopt new device-enabled procedures. - • Manufacturers sometimes overlook the difference between coding, coverage, and payment, where MPFS specifically addresses payment for physician services encoded by CPT codes. ## Frequently asked questions How does MPFS affect MedTech manufacturers? The MPFS influences how much physicians are paid for procedures involving medical devices, which can indirectly impact device adoption and market access. Manufacturers need to consider the economic implications for providers when developing and commercializing new technologies. What are RVUs? Who sets RVU values? ## Related terms Grouped by theme ### Editor's picks · Hand-selected related concepts [ Reimbursement CPT Codes(CPT) AMA-maintained codes that describe medical procedures and services. ](/terms/cpt-codes) ### More in Reimbursement · Same category [ Reimbursement 340B Drug Pricing Program(340B) Federal program providing discounted drugs to safety-net providers. ](/terms/340b)[ Reimbursement Ambulatory Payment Classification(APC) The Medicare grouping system that determines hospital outpatient payment amounts under OPPS, analogous to MS-DRGs for inpatient. ](/terms/apc)[ Reimbursement ASC Site-of-Service Shift Migration of procedures from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers. ](/terms/asc-shift)[ Reimbursement Budget Impact Model(BIM) Financial model that estimates the total cost consequences of adopting a new technology to a payer's budget over a defined horizon. ](/terms/budget-impact-model) Cited by Where this term appears across MedTech Terms. Ecosystems (1) - [Hospital Buyer & Reimbursement](/ecosystems/hospital-buyer) ## Primary references 3 sources Link health: 3 verified · last checked 2026-06-20 CMS· 1 AdvaMed· 1 AMA· 1 1. [1 CMS PFS Verified CMS · cms.gov ](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician) 2. [2 AdvaMed - Payment & Coverage Verified AdvaMed · advamed.org ](https://www.advamed.org/our-work/) 3. [3 AMA CPT Resources Verified AMA · ama-assn.org ](https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt) Inline markers like \[1\] jump to the matching reference above. Sponsor note ### Need cybersecurity expertise on a connected-device launch? Blue Goat Cyber helps MedTech teams ship connected products that hospital security teams will actually procure. [Book a 30-minute discovery session](https://go.bluegoatcyber.com/meetings/blue-goat-cyber/discovery-session) - No obligation - Expert-led from minute one - NDA available on request MedTech Terms is a community resource sponsored by [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com). Definitions are independent of any vendor. On this term Category Reimbursement Acronym MPFS Sources 3 Updated 5/5/2026 [Compare with another term](/compare?a=physician-fee-schedule) Learn in 60 seconds Card Lesson Quiz Medicare's payment system for physician professional services. - · RVU values for new device-enabled procedures shape physician adoption economics. - · The annual PFS rule and AMA RUC valuations are critical. Remember this Watch out: A common pitfall is assuming that device reimbursement directly follows the MPFS, when in fact the MPFS primarily covers physician services, not the device itself. Related terms - [CPT Codes(CPT) ](/terms/cpt-codes) You may also need Auto-suggested from Reimbursement and shared keywords. - [Physician Payments Sunshine Act ](/terms/sunshine-act) - [Site-Neutral Payment ](/terms/site-neutral-payment) - [Inpatient Prospective Payment System(IPPS) ](/terms/ipps) - [MS-DRG(MS-DRG) ](/terms/ms-drg) - [Outpatient Prospective Payment System(OPPS) ](/terms/opps) - [Ambulatory Payment Classification(APC) ](/terms/apc) [All Reimbursement terms](/terms?cat=Reimbursement) MedTech Terms An authoritative, plain-language reference for the regulatory, quality, cybersecurity, and software terms that shape modern medical devices. 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