David L. Bronson, MD, president of the American College of Physicians, testified in front of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, urging new ways to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare under the Medicare program.
Among his suggestions, Dr. Bronson recommended:
• Higher Medicare updates for physicians in recognized patient-centered medical home and patient-centered medical home neighborhood practices.
• Medicare payment policies that support medical professionals' efforts to practice high-value, cost-conscious care.
• Greater consistency and alignment among existing Medicare quality improvement programs
"Repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate is essential, but repeal by itself will not move Medicare to better ways to deliver care," Dr. Bronson said. "We need to transition from a fundamentally broken physician payment system to one that is based on the value of services to patients, building on physician-led initiatives to improve outcomes and lower costs."
Among his suggestions, Dr. Bronson recommended:
• Higher Medicare updates for physicians in recognized patient-centered medical home and patient-centered medical home neighborhood practices.
• Medicare payment policies that support medical professionals' efforts to practice high-value, cost-conscious care.
• Greater consistency and alignment among existing Medicare quality improvement programs
"Repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate is essential, but repeal by itself will not move Medicare to better ways to deliver care," Dr. Bronson said. "We need to transition from a fundamentally broken physician payment system to one that is based on the value of services to patients, building on physician-led initiatives to improve outcomes and lower costs."
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