AMGA Recommends Quality Payment Program Updates to Fulfill Congress’ Vision
In comments to the House of Representatives, AMGA today urged Congress to reform Medicare's Quality Payment Program to better engage patients and support providers' transition to value-based care by implementing a stable Medicare payment system.
Alexandria, VA – In comments to the House of Representatives, AMGA today urged Congress to reform Medicare's Quality Payment Program to better engage patients and support providers' transition to value-based care by implementing a stable Medicare payment system. Improvements to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Alternative Payment Model (APM) pathways are needed to fully realize Congress’ goal for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) to reward clinicians for the value of care they deliver to Medicare beneficiaries.
In response to a Request for Information (RFI) from a bipartisan group of House members, AMGA recommended Congress enact significant revisions to the Quality Payment Program, which currently is not working as Congress intended. AMGA’s recommendations are intended to acknowledge the significant time and resources that AMGA members have invested in the transition to value-based care and help realize MACRA’s original objectives. Specifically, AMGA recommends that Congress eliminate the low-volume threshold in MIPS and revise the qualification standards for and availability of APM payment bonuses.
“AMGA members need MACRA to provide the essential resources and regulatory stability to continue their journey to providing value-based care,” said AMGA President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A. “Congress has the opportunity to evaluate and improve MACRA and support providers in their efforts to offer best possible care to their patients in a value-based delivery system.”
AMGA also offered recommendations on key aspects of the future of value-based care. For example, Congress should reform MACRA so it offers support for the upfront capital expenses needed for any value-based system. In addition, the program should support patients’ ability to engage in their own care by offering incentives that will reward their efforts to improve health outcomes. AMGA also recommended that Congress enable providers to better address end-of-life care needs so patients and their families can make care decisions that respect their wishes and dignity. Finally, AMGA recommended Congress implement lessons learned from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and ensure Medicare covers telehealth as a widely available benefit.
The letter is available on AMGA’s website.
About AMGA
AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans. For more information, visit amga.org