Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are making their position on CMS's mandatory Medicare value-based payment models clear: "No," AISHealth reports.
Here's what you need to know.
1. Recently, 178 Republican lawmakers and a House Democrat signed a letter to CMS saying the proposed payment models for comprehensive joint replacement, Medicare Part B drug payments and cardiac bundled payments overstepped CMS's authority.
2. The letter targeted the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation which developed the new models.
3. The lawmakers claim the models did not properly take into account healthcare organization practice and have no built-in safeguards to protect those organizations.
4. The lawmakers allege the implementation of new payment models will dramatically alter the delivery of care as physicians and hospital systems adapt their practices to the new guidelines.
5. Several trade groups echo the lawmakers' comments including the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Gastroenterological Association.
The AGA won't be affected by current legislation, but opposes mandatory episodes for GI care.
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