July 8, 2016
Newswise — AMGA Releases Initial Statement on the Proposed CY 2017 Physician Fee Schedule Alexandria, VA – AMGA today released the following statement on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed CY 2017 Physician Fee Schedule.
“AMGA is pleased that CMS has recognized the administrative burden associated with the Chronic Care Management (CCM) code and is proposing to streamline its use,” said Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, AMGA’s president and chief executive officer. “CMS implemented a CCM code in 2015, and we said in earlier comments that the code’s requirements could be simplified by permitting patients to opt-in to the care management services verbally and having providers note the consent in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR). We are pleased to see that CMS agrees with our recommendation.
“CMS also is proposing to make separate payment for psychiatric collaborative care models (CoCMs) services beginning January 1, 2017. AMGA previously recommended separate payment and appreciates CMS is beginning the process for such reimbursement. Several AMGA member medical groups have established CoCMs within their organizations to provide effective treatment to patients with common behavioral health conditions that may otherwise go untreated, as well as to improve health outcomes and to reduce the costs of treatment.
“AMGA also is pleased that CMS has recognized the importance of beneficiary choice in the ACO program and has proposed an attestation process. Recognizing the need for beneficiary choice in the Medicare Shared Savings Program is a welcome development. AGMA looks forward to working with CMS to ensure ACOs are judged on their true patient populations.
“AMGA is disappointed that CMS reiterated in this proposed rule that Track 1 ACOs are effectively precluded from participating as Advanced APMs. The comment period for the proposed Quality Payment Program recently closed, and it is discouraging that it appears CMS may not be considering the substantive recommendations from AMGA and other organizations on this issue. AMGA encourages CMS to reconsider the exclusion of Track 1 ACOs from the Advanced APM option.
“AMGA appreciates that CMS has responded to our recommendations to improve chronic care management and the need to separately reimbursement behavioral health care that is provided through collaborative care models,” concluded Fisher.
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. amga.org
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