AMGA Concerned MIPS No Longer a Pathway to Value Under Proposed Physician Fee Schedule
Association Warns Program Will Devolve into Regulatory Compliance Exercise
Alexandria, VA – Based on initial review of the proposed CY 2020 Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule, AMGA is concerned that the estimated program year payment adjustments for the 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) do not reflect congressional intent or provide reimbursement that is commensurate with the investments that AMGA members made in response to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
As authorized by MACRA, providers have the opportunity to earn an adjustment of up to 9% on their Medicare Part B payments in 2022 based on their 2020 performance. However, as indicated in today’s proposal, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates the overall payment adjustment will be 1.4%.
In light of this significantly reduced adjustment, AMGA is concerned that MIPS is no longer a transition tool to value-based care, but instead represents a regulatory burden that does not support physician group practices and integrated systems of care that are investing in delivery models based on care coordination and improving population health. In addition, this adjustment undermines the intent of Congress to use MACRA to move the healthcare system to value-based payment.
“We are entering the fourth year of MIPS, and our members expected to have the opportunity to earn a significant payment adjustment if they performed well,” said Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A., AMGA president and CEO. “By proposing an overly cautious approach, CMS is not rewarding those organizations that made the necessary investments in and championed value-based care as envisioned by congressional leaders.”
AMGA will closely review the proposed rule and will provide detailed comments.
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About AMGA
AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans.