On May 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule addressing implementation of physician payment reforms included in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). This proposed rule defines how CMS intends to shift traditional fee‐for‐service payments that reward physicians for the volume of services delivered to Medicare payments that reward value and patient outcomes.
The changes to the physician payment system are immense and complex. More than 1 million physicians, other practitioners, and medical suppliers receive Medicare payment under the Physician Fee Schedule. Changes in clinician behavior under this new framework are expected to yield gains in quality of care, resulting in lower morbidity and mortality, and in cost savings. Clinicians’ Medicare revenue will be at risk, so clinicians must act to determine how best to participate in the various payment options established in MACRA.
The new AAHKS MACRA Resource Center provides the latest proposed rules, summaries and comments to CMS from AAHKS. Full details.