The U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on May 20 to examine the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), and potential opportunities for physician payment reforms. The hearing marked the third installment in the committee’s broader health affordability series.
The hearing comes as the AAO-HNS continues working with the House GOP and Democratic Doctors Caucuses on draft legislation aimed at stabilizing and modernizing Medicare physician payment policy. The proposal would establish a statutory inflationary update for Medicare physician payments, reform the process and thresholds for budget neutrality adjustments, and encourage greater physician participation in Alternative Payment Models (APMs). The draft also includes broader reforms to the current Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
The Academy, as part of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine coalition, submitted comments in response to the latest discussion draft proposal. Click here to view the coalition’s comments.
During the hearing, committee members and witnesses discussed concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of the current physician payment system, including the lack of predictable annual payment updates, administrative burdens associated with MIPS, and barriers to participation in advanced APMs. Lawmakers also highlighted concerns that Medicare reimbursement policies have contributed to increased consolidation within the healthcare system, creating higher costs and limiting patient access in some cases. Witnesses emphasized the importance of payment stability to help preserve independent and community-based physician practices and maintain access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Members on both sides of the aisle expressed interest in reforms that would provide physicians with greater financial predictability while promoting value-based care and reducing regulatory complexity.
Click here to watch the hearing.
