The North American Spine Society has announced support for the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014.
The proposed legislation would repeal the current sustainable growth rate formula and create a merit-based incentive payment system that streamlines the Physician Quality Reporting System, Value Based Modifier and meaningful use into one program. The legislation would also eliminate penalties from these programs in 2018.
The Act provides a 0.5 percent annual update through 2018 and then the 2018 rates would be maintained through 2023 with the opportunity to receive bonus payments through MIPS participation. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a threshold to determine a physician's score under MIPS instead of pitting physician-against-physician.
Finally, any quality measures would be established with physician consultation.
"NASS applauds Congress for setting aside politics and putting our nation's most vulnerable citizens — seniors and people with disabilities — first," says John Finkenberg, MD, NASS Advocacy Committee Chair in a news release. "While this proposed legislation is not perfect, it significantly improves upon the flawed sustainable growth rate formula and more fairly reimburses providers without jeopardizing patients' access to high-quality care."
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