AMA comments on Medicare reform to shape quality incentive programs

The American Medical Association (AMA) today submitted comprehensive comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlining changes that should be made to the proposed rule on Medicare payment and delivery reform, as created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The AMA's detailed recommendations seek to ensure that the new programs reward physicians for the improvements they make to their practice and the quality of care they provide to their patients. With the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) and its yearly, systemic threats of payment cuts now behind us, the AMA is urging changes across the programs, including specific revisions to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Alternative Payment Model (APM) option.