AMA urges CMS to simplify Quality Payment Program

While the American Medical Association (AMA) supports some of CMS’ proposals for year two of the Medicare Quality Payment Program (QPP), it is advising CMS to do more to simplify value-based payments.

In a proposed rule, CMS recommended that year two (2018) of the QPP under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) should be transitional to allow providers additional time to adjust to value-based payments. Participation in the QPP in 2018 impacts 2020 payments. Comments on the proposed rule are due by 5 p.m. Eastern today, August 22.

The AMA believes CMS should take its time developing a standard methodology for performance improvement rewards. In a letter to CMS, AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, urged CMS to continue seeking feedback and analyzing data before implementing an approach to measure and score performance improvement. The AMA does, however, support CMS’ proposal to not increase the number of quality measures physicians must report.

Does your facility have a MACRA and QPP action plan in place to report on quality measures? Join William L. Malm, ND, RN, CRCR, CMAS, and Holly Taylor, CVT, CRC, as they analyze the operational changes necessary to support the transition to value-based reimbursement during out 90-minute webinar MACRA and the Value-Based Transition: Understanding the Impact at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12.