Last Friday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported a third of physician groups with 100 practitioners or more will face penalties under the value-based modifier program in 2015, and the American Medical Association is concerned.
"If even the largest and most sophisticated groups in the country cannot comply with the program's complex and poorly-communicated requirements, the damage will likely be far greater when the VBM is extended to smaller groups and solo practitioners," said AMA President Robert M. Wah, MD.
There are 14 groups receiving bonuses under the program, but none of the groups have a "large percentage" of high-risk patients. Dr. Wah advised CMS to adjust better for socioeconomic factors that impact physicians who see the sickest patients to make sure those providers aren't disadvantaged.
"The VBM program is just one part of the regulatory tsunami physicians are facing which includes potential cuts from Meaningful Use and the Physician Quality Reporting System," said Dr. Wah.