CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt gave his take this weekend on Twitter on the progress of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which will change the way physicians are reimbursed for Medicare services.
As outlined on Storify, Mr. Slavitt took to Twitter to highlight four of his own key takeaways on MACRA and the comment period. Here is what he had to say.
1. The agency has received a great deal of responses on MACRA, both positive and negative. Mr. Slavitt tweeted Sunday, "very encouraged by all the engagement, particularly the critics." In addition to sending in feedback, providers have an opportunity to invite representatives from CMS to speak in-person or via a webinar to present information on MACRA and field questions in listening sessions, Mr. Slavitt tweeted.
2. From the feedback, Mr. Slavitt says he understands "people want a philosophical change — a program that doesn't get in the way of practicing medicine, but supports it." He said the agency has seen most interest and feedback center around how MACRA can enhance patient care, not increase reporting and paperwork. It has also listened to many concerns about how small practices will fare under the law, which it addressed with a fact sheet. Lastly, he noted many have had questions on how existing alternative payment models, such as patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations, overlap with MACRA. He tweeted that CMS will continue to issue fact sheets to address these concerns.
3. Mr. Slavitt said walking through the basics of the program has been critical. He named payment adjustments, measurement and paperwork as three items the law hopes to improve over Medicare today. To help walk providers through the basics, CMS has already hosted 10 MACRA webinars in May, he said.
4. There is "more time, more to learn, more #MACRA meetings coming up," Mr. Slavitt tweeted.CMS is offering 35 MACRA events in May alone, he said, and has five more webinars to go. Providers can sign up here.
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