Statement attributed to:
Steven J. Stack, M.D.
President, American Medical Association

"It is hard to overstate the significance of these proposed regulations for patients and physicians. When Congress overwhelmingly passed MACRA last year, lawmakers signaled that they wanted to transform Medicare by promoting flexibility and innovation in the delivery of care, changes that could lead to improved quality and better outcomes for patients.

"Our initial review suggests that CMS has been listening to physicians' concerns. In particular, it appears that CMS has made significant improvements by recasting the EHR Meaningful Use program and by reducing quality reporting burdens.

"Today's draft rules are only a first step in the rulemaking process and with many physicians awaiting guidance on how these rules will affect their practice, the AMA is launching comprehensive, online resources to help navigate the changes and drive successful implementation for physicians.

"The existing Medicare pay-for-performance programs are burdensome, meaningless and punitive. The new incentive system needs to be relevant to the real-world practice of medicine and establish meaningful links between payments and the quality of patient care, while reducing red tape.

"The 60-day comment period will provide physicians with an opportunity to offer constructive recommendations to share the final regulations that will be issued in the fall. The AMA will continue its engagement with CMS during the comment period so that MACRA can live up to its promise.

"To assist physicians navigate the nuts and bolts of the new payment delivery system, the AMA today is announcing new online information and resources to help physicians navigate the changing landscape. Details on the AMA's ongoing work to inform physicians on changes to Medicare laws can be found on AMA Wire."