WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), today held a hearing examining the implementation of Medicare payment reforms included in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015. The hearing examined how physician organizations and their members are preparing for the successful implementation of Medicare payment reforms. The subcommittee held a hearing last month focused on CMS’ work in developing the rules for implementation.
The Medicare payment reforms arose from the repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which was a flawed payment system for doctors that required Congress to repeatedly implement temporary fixes for over a decade. The bipartisan and bicameral agreement to repeal and replace the SGR was coupled with other health related provisions and overwhelmingly passed both chambers last year. The bill was ultimately signed into law on April 16, 2015.
“Through a variety of incentives, MACRA encourages physicians to engage in activities to improve quality, patient experience and outcomes and reduce costs," stated Chairman Pitts. “Prior to MACRA, physicians not only faced the threat of unsustainable cuts from the SGR, but a series of well-meaning but uncoordinated requirements stacked on top of each other from a variety of reporting requirements. MACRA seeks to consolidate, streamline and integrate these efforts into a single program."
Chairman Pitts stressed that instead of waiting for CMS to issue its proposed rule on how they plan to implement these changes, there are critical steps practitioners can take today. Those steps include: thinking about ways to modernize their practice, and start evaluating options currently available, such as Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or Alternative Payment Methods (APMs).
Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) asked the witnesses what they were most excited about with the implementation. Dr. Robert McLean, FACP, who testified on behalf of the American College of Physicians, spoke about the ability to leverage data to improve patient outcomes. Dr. Robert Wergin, FAAFP, Board Chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said that he and his member physicians are excited about “the opportunity to value primary care appropriately, which hasn’t always been done." Dr. Barbara McAneny, who testified on behald of the American Medical Association, spoke about the opportunity to focus on improving her care team, utilizing other providers to maximize her ability to deliver care and improve her patients’ experience, something she not been able to afford to do.
Additional information on today’s hearing, including a background memo, witness testimony and an archived video can be found on our website here. Related Items
* Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015: Examining Physician Efforts to Prepare for Medicare Payment Reforms
