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CMS announces new voluntary bundled payment model

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new voluntary bundled-payment model. Called the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced Model, it will be considered an advanced alternative payment model (APM) under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). This new, voluntary model comes less than two months after the CMS eliminated two mandatory bundled-payment models created during the Obama administration. MACRA’s Quality Payment Program (QPP) created two tracks for physician payment – the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced APM track.  Under ...

Survey finds nation's physicians not ready to fulfill MACRA reporting requirements

Fewer than one in four physicians feel ready to meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) reporting requirements, according to a survey of 1,000 physicians conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA). QPP is the new physician payment system created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). It replaces the fee-for-service reimbursement model with two paths to choose from: the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APM). Over half of those surveyed (56 percent) plan to participate in MIPS in ...

National health care payment summit offers discounted registration for CMA member physicians

Discounted registration is now available for California Medical Association (CMA) members who wish to attend the 11th National Value-Based Payment and Pay for Performance Summit, taking place at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco and online February 17-19, 2016. Co-sponsored by CMA, this summit is the leading forum on pay for performance, transparency and value-driven health care, providing an opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the country on the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the health care system in 2016. Leaders from industry, government and the non-profit sector will share ...

AMA publishes guide to physician-focused alternative payment models

The legislation that repealed the Medicare sustainable growth rate—the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA)—created major new opportunities to advance alternative payment models (APM). Starting in 2019, MACRA will provide a 5 percent annual bonus payment to physicians who participate in APMs and it exempts them from participating in the fee-for-service meaningful use and quality reporting programs (MACRA's Merit-Based Incentive Payment System). In addition to accountable care organizations, medical homes and bundled payments for hospital-based episodes, MACRA also provides for the development of “physician-focused” APMs. The American Medical Association ...