CMS Finalizes Policies that Reduce Provider Burden, Lower Drug Prices

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two final rules. The2018 Physician Fee Schedule final rule will modernize the Medicare payment system to create greater competition in the biopharmaceutical market to lower costs. TheQuality Payment Program final rule allows clinicians in small and rural practices to join together and share the responsibility of participating in value-based payments. This rule also decreases the number of clinicians required to participate, provides additional detail on clinician participation in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs), and includes a new hardship exception for small practices affected by the recent hurricanes.
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - Category: Rural Health Source Type: news