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- CAP, AMA and over 100 Health Care Organizations Oppose Burdensome Policies in Medicare Savings Program
The CAP, American Medical Association (AMA), and over one hundred physician and health care organizations came out in strong opposition to two recently finalized policies in the 2024 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule pertaining to certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) utilization requirements for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Alternative Payment Model (APM) entities, and their participating practices.
In a letter the groups say: “We have serious concerns that these policies will significantly increase burden and jeopardize participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and other Medicare Advanced APMs with a disproportionate impact on small practices and the patients they serve.”
The Medicare Shared Savings Program is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payment system that moves away from volume and toward value and outcomes. ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who collaborate to give coordinated high-quality care to people with Medicare, while avoiding unnecessary services and medical errors. When an ACO succeeds in both delivering high-quality care and spending health care dollars more wisely, the ACO may be eligible to share in the savings it achieves for the Medicare program (also known as performance payments).
The first policy requires that all MSSP participants report Merit-based Incentive Payment System promoting interoperability data starting with the 2025 performance year. The second policy updates the CEHRT use criteria. The groups are requesting that the CMS delay both policies until at least the 2027 performance year and establish additional flexibilities.