MACRA Update and Physician Resources Available

10/7/2016

As the AMA waits for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to release its final rule on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), they have provided an update on the latest advocacy work and new physician resources. Through the MACRA Task Force and various work groups, the AMA and the Federation have been collaborating to develop strategic approaches to advocacy, along with consistent messaging. In addition the AMA filed extensive comments on CMS’ proposed rule, emphasizing the need for greater flexibility and choice.

There has been further evidence that CMS has been listening to physician concerns, when CMS Acting Administrator Andrew Slavitt announced that physicians can choose among four options to avoid payment penalties in 2019. Medicine welcomed CMS’ decision to allow physicians to pick their own pace for the initial MACRA reporting period in 2017 as a positive step toward giving all physicians a fair opportunity to succeed.

Although details on MACRA implementation will not be available until the final rule is released later this fall, there are a number of resources to help physician practices begin to prepare for the transition to the new payment system:

MACRA website – Includes a checklist with steps practices can take now to prepare, an action kit and slideshow with information about what is in the proposed rule, an outline of advocacy efforts, a “Guide to physician-focused payment models,” and additional resources
AMA STEPS Forward® module, “Preparing your practice for value-based care” – CME-accredited activity provides steps to take, answers to common questions and case vignettes
New podcast series “Inside Medicare’s new payment system” (available at https://reachmd.com/programs/inside-medicares-new-payment-system/) – Produced by ReachMD, these downloadable audio stories feature interviews with industry experts and physician leaders (including CMS’ Andy Slavitt, AMA President Andrew Gurman, MD, and the AMA’s Richard Deem and Michael Tutty)
AMA Wire® stories – Ongoing articles on the latest MACRA developments, how physicians are participating in new models of care, and more

​MACRA Update and Physician Resources Available

MACRA Update and Physician Resources Available