Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing Examining MACRA

May 9, 2019
Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Practice Management, Practitioners

This week, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Medicare Physician Payment Reform After Two Years: Examining MACRA Implementation and the Road Ahead. The hearing examined how well the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 met and continues to meet its goals for improving quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries.

Witnesses included leaders in the physician community, including Barbara McAneny, MD, president of the American Medical Association; John Cullen, MD, FAAFP, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians; and Frank Opelka, MD, FACS, director for quality and health policy at the American College of Surgeons. Many of the groups testifying urged Congress to continue to improve on the law by continuing base pay hikes for physicians beyond the end of 2019 as the law now requires, making the 5% bonus for those participating in alternative pay models permanent and some even suggested eliminating the Merit-based Incentive Payment System completely.

The groups wanted to ensure that providers have the resources they need to continue to innovate on how quality of care is delivered. If pay is frozen at the end of 2019 innovation could be stifled.

To watch the entire hearing click here.