The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released a statement about a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to install new bundled payment models for various patients.
The specific patients in question have experienced a heart attack or received coronary artery bypass surgery.
"In the landmark Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), Congress encouraged physicians to participate in alternative payment models that support their efforts to redesign the delivery of patient care in ways that improve quality and outcomes while also restraining spending growth,” AMA President Dr. Andrew Gurman said. “Under this new proposal, CMS is broadening its models so that physicians participating in its cardiac and orthopedic models will qualify as alternative payment model participants under MACRA. This is a good step and in keeping with the goals of MACRA."
The positive news will also benefit patients, as they will continue to receive quality care for their health concerns.
“Medicare patients are best served by voluntary, physician-led, condition-based models,” Gurman said. “That CMS is inviting comments on physician-led models in this rule is a positive sign that also tracks AMA recommendations, as well as demonstrating the flexibility needed to achieve the goals of MACRA. Physician leadership is crucial to improve care delivery.”
