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New HMA white paper examines Medicare's reimbursement system for physicians' servicesResearchers explore its history, reasons behind calls for reform, and provide recommendations for improvements LANSING, Mich., May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Health Management Associates (HMA) released a new white paper, "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Reform: Structural Topics and Recommendations to Strengthen the System for the Future." It provides an in-depth analysis of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including the history of its implementation, stakeholder perspectives on reform, major structural issues, and recommendations for improving the $90-plus billion payment system.
Recent years have witnessed a growing bipartisan call to reform how Medicare reimburses for physician and other health professional services. A wide array of stakeholders assert that the current system—the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)—is misaligned with today's practice patterns and market dynamics. Many constituencies maintain that the PFS is insufficiently updated, embeds known pricing distortions, and does not appropriately effectuate value-based care principles. Although a considerable number of legislative and regulatory changes have been implemented to refine and modernize the system, the PFS has never been subject to a major statutory overhaul that would comprehensively address pressing issues. HMA studied these issues with support from Arnold Ventures in "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Reform: Structural Topics and Recommendations to Strengthen the System for the Future." HMA's white paper is an accessible primer on the PFS and key moments that led to the current policy situation. The white paper describes structural topics in the PFS that raise concern or prompt calls for change, provides context on the history and progress of the payment system and highlights stakeholder perspectives on reform. Authors also include a series of recommendations that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could implement without Congressional action to help improve payment accuracy, further the adoption of alternative payment models and help strengthen the system for the future. The recommendations highlight areas that prioritize actionable steps, prompt idea generation, and encourage process improvement within the PFS. For accessible background and context on the PFS and why the stakeholder community is calling for reforms to the fee schedule, download here. View an electronic timeline of key policy developments and highlights of topics related to the PFS since implementation in 1992 here. About HMA About Arnold Ventures
SOURCE Health Management Associates 
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