An assortment of Energy and Commerce Committee officials are pleased with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) statement concerning the last rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
In September, the bipartisan committee leaders addressed the administration in a letter promoting more leeway for practitioners, which was an adjustment made in the final rule.
“We’re pleased to see the administration responded to many of our concerns and followed our recommendation to provide clinicians and practitioners more flexibility in the issuance of the final rule for MACRA,” committee members said in a statement. “These steps help enhance practitioner participation in new Medicare payment opportunities that will ultimately improve patient care and outcomes. Last month, the administration provided early word of reporting flexibility for physicians and other health care providers.
These officials include Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI); Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ); House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX); and Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI).
“We believe that these and other flexibilities, which are included in the final rule, will help ensure that Medicare beneficiaries receive the value-based care they deserve,” they said. “This historic law has been a collaborative effort from the start. We are encouraged by this final rule and CMS’ commitment to ongoing collaboration with Congress and the health care community.”
