AMA Says CMS Cardiac Proposal Includes Positive Steps

CHICAGO — The American Medical Assoc. (AMA) responded to a proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would create new bundled payment models for patients who have a heart attack or undergo coronary-artery-bypass surgery.

“In the landmark Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), Congress encouraged physicians to participate in alternative payment models that support their efforts to redesign the delivery of patient care in ways that improve quality and outcomes while also restraining spending growth,” said AMA President Dr. Andrew Gurman. “Under this new proposal, CMS is broadening its models so that physicians participating in its cardiac and orthopaedic models will qualify as alternative payment model participants under MACRA. This is a good step and in keeping with the goals of MACRA.

“Medicare patients are best served by voluntary, physician-led, condition-based models,” Gurman went on. “That CMS is inviting comments on physician-led models in this rule is a positive sign that also tracks AMA recommendations, as well as demonstrating the flexibility needed to achieve the goals of MACRA. Physician leadership is crucial to improve care delivery.”