WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has asked the public to comment on rule making for new physician payment models.
The request for information (RFI) is open through Oct. 29, 2015, and seeks input on Section 101 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) passed earlier this year to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR).
Section 101 replaces the SGR with regularly scheduled physician fee service updates, including higher rates for those participating in alternative payment models. The portion of the law also consolidates a number of previous quality metrics programs, such as the Physician Quality Reporting System, the Value-Based Payment Modifier, and the meaningful use program, and replaces them with merit incentive payment systems (MIPS).
In addition, Section 101 of the MACRA gives physicians and other eligible professionals incentive to create additional, so-called, “physician-focused payment models.”
Dr. Patrick Conway, Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality and CMS Chief Medical Officer, wrote at HealthAffairs.org that he hopes eligible “stakeholders will take this opportunity to provide input through the RFI. … and our goal is to help providers be successful while reducing administrative burden.”
The public can review and comment on Section 101 of MACRA.
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