What do the 2026 midterm election results mean for healthcare?

November 11, 2026

In this episode of Zotec Answers, Mark Isenberg, Executive Vice President of Healthcare Advocacy at Zotec Partners, and Ed Gaines, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Industry Liaison, break down the 2026 midterm election results and explore what changing congressional leadership could mean for physicians, independent medical practices, healthcare organizations, and patients.

Why Winning No Surprises Act Disputes Doesn’t Guarantee Payment

With the 2026 midterm elections behind us, the 120th Congress faces consequential decisions about healthcare affordability, Medicare physician payment cuts, the No Surprises Act, Medicaid, and patients’ access to care.

Mark Isenberg and Ed Gaines explain where bipartisan opportunities may emerge, what physicians and healthcare organizations should watch, and why advocacy remains essential to protecting medical practices and patients’ access to care.

Key topics include:

• 2026 Midterm Election Results: What the election outcomes and changing congressional leadership could mean for federal healthcare policy in the 120th Congress.
• 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: How additional Medicare reimbursement cuts, budget neutrality adjustments, and the lack of adequate inflationary updates could affect physicians and patient access to care.
• Bipartisan Medicare Payment Reform: How the Patients First Act (H.R. 9693) and H.R. 8163 could address physician reimbursement challenges and why lawmakers may consider short-term relief during the lame-duck session.
• No Surprises Act Enforcement: Why unpaid Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) awards, insurer payment practices, and enforcement gaps remain major concerns for independent physicians.
• Healthcare Affordability: How the growing focus on healthcare costs could influence negotiations among lawmakers, health insurers, physicians, and other healthcare stakeholders.
• Medicaid Policy and Access to Care: How potential Medicaid policy changes and state-level responses could affect coverage and hospital-based physicians, including emergency medicine, radiology, and anesthesiology.
• Physician Representation in Congress: Why electing more healthcare professionals to public office could bring valuable clinical experience and patient-centered perspectives to federal policymaking.
• Bipartisan Healthcare Advocacy: Where Democrats and Republicans may find common ground on Medicare reimbursement, No Surprises Act enforcement, and protecting access to care.

What comes next for healthcare policy?

Mark and Ed examine the opportunities and uncertainties facing the next Congress. This includes the possibility of bipartisan action on Medicare physician payment reform, stronger enforcement of the No Surprises Act, and continued debate over healthcare affordability and Medicaid.

As the healthcare policy landscape evolves, they emphasize the importance of physician engagement, informed advocacy, and collaboration. These measures help ensure federal policies support sustainable medical practices and access to quality patient care.

Take Action: Support Medicare Physician Payment Reform

The 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule raises important concerns about physician reimbursement and patient access to care. Text ZPFIX to 50457 to learn more and urge Congress to support the bipartisan Patients First Act (H.R. 9693), which seeks to improve Medicare physician payment updates.

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About ZPAC: the Zotec Political Advocacy Committee (ZPAC), dedicates itself to making a difference for physicians and healthcare administrators nationwide. ZPAC advocates for equitable access to healthcare services for all individuals. Stay informed and engaged with ZPAC by following our podcast episodes, blog posts, and speaking engagements on our active Twitter/X and LinkedIn profiles. Together, we can shape policies that support healthcare providers and promote equitable access to quality care for all. To learn more about Zotec Partners, visit our website here.