CHICAGO — American Medical Association (AMA) President David O. Barbe, M.D. today released the following statement commending the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for hearing the concerns of practicing physicians regarding MACRA implementation.
“CMS is proposing a number of policies (PDF) to help physicians avoid penalties under the Quality Payment Program. In particular, it is suggesting several actions to assist small practices. The Administration showed it heard the concerns raised by the AMA on behalf of practicing physicians.
“In proposing these rules, the Administration has taken another step to make sure the promise of MACRA — where physicians are rewarded for improvement and for delivering high-quality, high-value care—will be fulfilled. Patients and physicians will benefit from the new MACRA approach, as flexibility is vital when implementing a wide-ranging reform.
“Not all physicians and their practices were ready to make the leap, and many faced daunting challenges. This flexible approach will give physicians more options to participate in MACRA and takes into consideration the diversity of medical practices throughout the country.”
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
