The Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act, known as MACRA, is a proposed rule issued in April 2016 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). According to information from the AMA, the MACRA rule creates 2 different payment pathways for physicians—alternative payment models (APMs) and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
Is this the future for physician reimbursement? It looks like it.
Introducing MACRA: The Reauthorization Act that destroys the private practice. Amidst numerous explanations and justifications, the real take-away is that physician compensation will decline and performance accountability will increase. If this MACRA change sounds ominous? It is. Let’s not try to candy coat this effort.
With overwhelming legislative support, physician compensation through government programs was on a collision course and MACRA is the answer. To quote Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
“MACRA creates a payment system for physicians that will accelerate Medicare’s transition from fee-for-service to payment based on performance metrics, patient experience, and patient outcomes.”
What does this mean for the private practitioner? It is time to join a larger organization that can handle “risk” and “manage” care. Get ready for one of the most “dynamic” times in the history of healthcare reform.
How to Build Better Physician Leaders
Despite brilliant careers as clinicians, most doctors in the U.S. have no leadership training, reports the Harvard Business Review. Additionally, they rise through the ranks uniformly, often lacking the ability to effectively coordinate teams, coach and receive feedback, communicate and display emotional intelligence, the HBR explains. Not surprisingly, there’s a tremendous need for integrating clinical […]