The AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) supports efforts to explore alternative payment models (APMs), such as the patient-centered medical home. A prior example of these efforts was when the RUC submitted comprehensive recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in May 2008 regarding the resources required to provide medical home services. CMS, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians all expressed appreciation for the RUC’s unanimous decision to submit robust recommendations (PDF) for the physician work and practice costs required to serve as a medical home.
The Medical Home Demonstration project was mandated by Congress through the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA). Section 204 of the TRHCA directed CMS to conduct a 3-year demonstration project of the medical home concept of patient care. The legislation described the medical home as large or small medical practices where a physician provides comprehensive and coordinated patient-centered medical care and acts as the “personal physician” to the patient. Further, the act specifically requested that CMS use the RUC process to develop a case management fee and valuation.
In a letter dated May 29, 2008, CMS Administrator Kerry Weems thanked the RUC for providing its recommendations (PDF) for the Medicare Medical Home Demonstration project and for the RUC's support of the project. The AMA has also been congratulated for its efforts by both the American College of Physicians (PDF) and the American Academy of Family Practice (PDF).
