ACR Encouraged by Senate White Paper on Medicare Payment Reform

U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), recently released a white paper, Bolstering Chronic Care through Physician Payment: Current Challenges and Policy Options in Medicare Part B related to Medicare physician payment reform. Their paper outlines areas of interest the committee views as an opportunity for reform. These include:

• Creating sustainable payment updates to ensure clinicians can own and operate their practices.
• Incentivizing alternative payment models that reward providing better care at a lower cost.
• Rethinking how Medicare measures quality care.
• Improving primary care.
• Supporting chronic care benefits in Medicare fee-for-service.
• Ensuring continued access to telehealth.

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) asserts that year-over-year, statutorily-mandated cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule demonstrate the Medicare payment system is broken and a permanent fix is urgently necessary. ACR is encouraged that the committee is taking thoughtful steps toward payment reform and will provide feedback on the white paper to the committee.

If you have any questions, contact Rebecca Spangler, ACR Senior Government Relations Director.