����������

The Senate Finance Committee today held a on clinician payment reform under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 and how it could be further improved, which featured witnesses from a number of physician organizations. MACRA’s Quality Payment Program, now in its third performance year, includes two payment tracks: advanced alternative payment models and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. In a statement submitted to the committee, AHA urged Congress to continue working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide greater opportunity to participate in advanced APMs. “In addition, we urge Congress to consider changes to the fraud and abuse laws to allow hospitals and physicians to work together to achieve the important goals of the new payment models – improving quality, outcomes and efficiency in the delivery of patient care,” AHA said. “Finally, opportunities remain to improve fairness and reduce burden under the MIPS.”