MACRA

Signed into law in April 2015, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) replaced the badly broken sustainable growth rate (SGR) reimbursement formula with new "value-based" payment systems that have been developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) over the course of 2016.

MACRA establishes two different payment tracks that physicians may choose. The first track combines the current fee-for-service payment program and several existing CMS reporting programs (PQRS, Value-Based Modifier, and Meaningful Use) into a single, streamlined new program called the Merit-Based Incentive Program (MIPS). The second track, Alternative Payment Models (APM), is intended to allow physicians to design and develop their own models and submit them to CMS for approval.

In October 2016, CMS issued its final rule on MACRA implementation. The American Medical Association (AMA), the California Medical Association (CMA), ACCMA, and many other physician organizations advocated on your behalf to improve the final rule and make it more workable for physicians. This included meetings between ACCMA leaders and CMS officials to provide feedback on the proposed regulations. To help members manage MACRA implementation, the ACCMA has compiled a list of resources on MACRA. This list will be updated as more information and further resources become available.

To determine if you are eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), click here.

If you have questions about MACRA or would like additional assistance, contact David Lopez, ACCMA Associate Director of Advocacy and Policy, at 510-654-5383 or by email at dlopez@accma.org.