April 19, 2016
AMGA Chair Elect Dr. Jeffrey Bailet Testifies on MACRA before House CommitteeUnderscores importance of engagement with healthcare provider community
Newswise — Alexandria, VA –AMGA Chair Elect of the Board of Directors Jeffrey Bailet, M.D., co-president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group, today testified before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on the payment reforms included in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), as well as the transition toward a value-based payment system in Medicare. Dr. Bailet testified that physicians are at various stages of readiness to take on financial risk and that regulators at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should proceed cautiously as providers learn how to function within value-based payment structures, such as an Alternative Payment Model (APM). “AMGA members, such as Aurora Health, are positioned well to provide valuable insight to Congress and regulators,” said Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, AMGA’s president and chief executive officer. “Because of their experiences with coordinated care management and translating electronic health record data into improved clinical practices, their involvement is vital to successfully transitioning to value-based payment. Congress recognizes the importance of learning from our members and I expect that CMS will look to them as MACRA regulations are developed and refined.”
Dr. Bailet also testified on the importance of CMS engagement with the healthcare community and suggested several steps CMS can take to foster provider participation in the APM program. For example, he said CMS should ensure that providers have full access to claims data, data exchange formats are standardized, and the risk-adjustment and physician attribution methodologies are improved. Read Dr. Bailet’s full testimony.
About AMGAThe AMGA is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing medical groups, health systems, and other organized systems of care, including some of the nation's largest, most prestigious integrated delivery systems. AMGA is a leading voice in advocating for efficient, team-based, and accountable care. AMGA members encompass all models of organized systems of care in the healthcare industry, including: physician-owned, independent group practices, integrated delivery systems, hospital-affiliated medical groups, independent practice associations (IPAs), academic and faculty practices, accountable care organizations, and high-performing health systems. Approximately 177,000 physicians practice in AMGA member organizations, providing healthcare services for 133 million patients (approximately one in three Americans). Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, AMGA is the strategic partner for these organizations, providing a comprehensive package of benefits, including political advocacy, educational and networking programs, publications, benchmarking data services, and financial and operations assistance. www.amga.org
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