LUGPA Submits Comments on MACRA Reform

On October 31, 2022, LUGPA submitted comments to Congress regarding MACRA and Physician Payment Reform. 

The comments expressed that Congress should reform payment updates, promote adoption of Physician-Focused Payment Models (PFPMs), reform or repeal the zero-sum game in MIPS, move Medicare towards true site-neutral payments, and codify the recent administrative reforms made to the Stark and Anti-Kickback laws. 

Reforming MACRA and addressing concerns regarding physician reimbursement are not simply economic discussions. Deeply flawed pay-for-performance programs established by MACRA that pit providers against one another and do little to drive physicians toward value-based care as well as MPFS payment policy that is completely disconnected from actual expenses incurred by independent practices are deeply demoralizing to physicians. These pressures have clearly been shown to contribute to physician burnout as well as many more physicians making the decision to retire early. These factors will only serve to exacerbate the nation’s shortage of physicians and have been shown to directly adversely affect patients. These concerns are of particular concern to LUGPA as urologists have been shown to be among the specialty group most affected by these trends.

Congress must act to protect physicians by providing stable payment updates that reflect the realities of the economy and health care practice costs as well as implement sensible changes that facilitate the transition to value-based care. LUGPA stands ready to work with Congress to improve MACRA and the MPFS and recommends that Congress take immediate action to:

1. Encourage the development of PFPMs;
2. Move towards repealing the onerous and ineffective MIPS program;
3. Until MIPS can be repealed, establish more meaningful payment rewards for high performing practices under MIPS, including removing the zero-sum provisions of the program as well as reauthorizing and expanding the bonus payments for exceptional performs; and
4. Ensure that site neutrality payments are realized in order to prevent patient access issues and the driving up of health care costs.

Read the entire comment letter here.