The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met Nov. 8–9 to discuss topics related to Medicare payment issues. During the meeting, MedPAC, an independent congressional agency established to advise Congress about issues affecting the Medicare program, discussed accountable care organizations (ACOs), the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and telehealth services. ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high-quality care to their Medicare patients. The Shared Savings Program is committed to achieving better health for individuals, better population health and lowering growth in expenditures.
MedPAC employees focused their updates to commissioners on issues relating to ACO and MSSP benchmarking and the impact it has on both models. MedPAC commissioners agreed that the long-term effects of benchmarking are a major concern for the sustainability of ACOs. Several Commissioners also signaled their interest in the creation of more mandatory models to align incentives.
MedPAC employees also presented an update on telehealth in Medicare, including a review changes to policies related to the COVID-19 public health emergency and recent updates in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Commissioners discussed the importance in providing Medicare beneficiaries access to telehealth services, especially those in rural areas.
The next MedPAC meeting will take place Dec. 9–10.
For more information or if you have questions, please email Christina Berry, American College of Radiology® Team Lead, Economic Policy.