Washington, D.C., July 14, 2023 — Following the publication of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), Accountable for Health (A4H) CEO Mara McDermott issued the following statement:
“We are pleased to see CMS use this year’s PFS cycle to advance primary care, expand access to behavioral health, and grow accountable care. We appreciate CMS’s proposals to strengthen the Medicare Shared Savings Program. We are particularly glad to see the agency request stakeholder comments on a higher-risk track that would build on the success of previous CMS Innovation Center models and incorporate lessons learned about how to provide a better care experience to Medicare enrollees. This creates an important dialogue with the agency about how best to structure a new track to expand participation in accountable care.
“The proposed rule continues to build toward the agency’s goal of having 100% of Medicare enrollees in accountable care relationships by 2030. Accountable care and a focus on prevention help to reduce the high cost and burden of disease across populations and ensure that people are getting care that is convenient, affordable, and accessible.
“The proposed 3.3% cut to the conversion factor included in the rule, taken together with expiring incentives for adoption of advanced alternative payment models, creates additional urgency for Congress to revisit MACRA this year. As Congress evaluates the future of physician payment in traditional Medicare, we will continue to share detailed feedback and collaborate with policymakers to improve the system as we work toward person-centered accountable care.”
About Accountable for Health
Accountable for Health (A4H) is a 501(c)(4) national advocacy and policy analysis organization accelerating the adoption of sustainable, effective accountable care that improves health care quality and outcomes and lower costs. We represent a broad, diverse group of accountable care stakeholders working to improve the way health care is delivered to people across the county, across various payers, programs, and delivery models. A4H provides advocacy, research, and education to improve outcomes and patient experiences while lowering costs.
For more information, visit https://accountableforhealth.org/. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@acct4health). ###
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Accountable for Health supports the introduction of the bipartisan Patients First Act and looks forward to working with the bill's sponsors to strengthen these proposals and ensure they maximize physician participation in accountable care and improve quality while lowering costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
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