Draft regulations outline next phase of Medicare

A 962-page proposed rule released Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) details the draft regulations the agency is considering for implementation of last year’s groundbreaking Medicare reform law. Goals for improving health care for patients and physicians Ahead of CMS’ release of the rule, physician leaders testified to the U.S. House of Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health during a special hearing last week on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). The physicians all underscored in their testimony the great potential the law holds for allowing physicians across the country in every specialty and practice setting to focus more on their patients and the innovations that are needed to improve quality, reduce costs and ensure the sustainability of their practices. If implemented in a way that truly achieves these goals, MACRA could positively change the health care environment. “We think it may even bring back the joy of medical practice,” Robert Wergin, MD, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said in his written testimony. Robert McClean, MD, of the American College of Physicians’ Board of Regents, expressed a similar hope for how the law will be carried out, noting in his testimony, “I truly believe that if MACRA can get rolled out with its best intentions implemented well, it is a remarkable ‘shot in the arm’ Congress can give to physicians and the rest o...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news