To help physicians with the transition to value-based payments, HHS will award $100 million to organizations that will provide them support and training. Many physician groups fear they are unable to meet requirements of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and say the law threatens their independence. In a Black Book survey, 67 percent of independent physicians said they don't have the technology, capital or staffing required to comply with MACRA, and 78 percent of primary care physicians said they plan to join a larger physician group or an integrated delivery network because they can't remain independent.
HHS will award $20 million a year for the next five years to support training and education for individual clinicians or those in group practices with 15 or fewer clinicians, specifically providers in under-resourced and medically underserved areas.
"Doctors and healthcare providers in small and rural practices are critical to our goal of building a healthcare system that works for everyone," said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell in a statement.
Organizations that provide education and consulting services to these small practices can apply for the funding.
"The purpose of this contract is to provide a flexible and agile approach to customized direct technical assistance and support services tailored to provider needs to ensure success for participating Merit-based Incentive Payment system eligible clinicians," according to the solicitation notice.
HHS plans to announce awardees by November.
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Dr. John Halamka on MACRA rules: 'It's time to leave the profession'