Blogs

Earlier this month, the House Committee on Appropriations marked up its fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The House bill would provide $110.8 billion in discretionary funding for HHS, a reduction of $4 billion. 

On May 6, 2026, Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO) visited SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital to learn how policy decisions impact surgeons—and the patients they serve. When lawmakers visit a hospital, advocacy becomes tangible. That was the case when Rep. Burlison toured SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital alongside cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Jen Vigneswaran, Dr.

As a surgical resident, I am trained to focus on what is immediately in front of me, the patient, the operation, the outcome. But stepping into a congressional office as part of STS's advocacy efforts offered a stark reminder: many of the factors that shape our patients’ outcomes are determined far beyond the walls of the operating room.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. STS has compiled a summary of the rule’s key provisions affecting cardiothoracic surgery.

On Jan. 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a new payment policy, through the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), that directly impacts cardiothoracic surgery.  The “efficiency adjustment,” reduces non-time-based work Relative Value Units (wRVUs) by 2.5%, with additional cuts scheduled every three years.

As early-career thoracic surgeons, attending the STS 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans was an energizing and transformative experience. The annual gathering of our specialty’s brightest minds offers much more than just the latest research—it’s a celebration of our community, a catalyst for professional growth, and a reminder of the impact we can have on patients and each other.

President Trump has signed into law the bipartisan federal spending package that provides full‑year appropriations for the remaining three FY26 funding bills — Labor‑HHS‑Education and Related Agencies, Defense, Transportation‑HUD — and provides two weeks of stopgap funding for the Department of Homeland Security.