CMS Provider Call on ACA Payment Change

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a national provider call on Wednesday, Aug. 1 from 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. to discuss the proposed implementation of a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will apply a value-based modifier to physicians' Medicare payment rates.

As stipulated in the ACA, the program is being phased in over three years, beginning in 2015. It is budget neutral and therefore will result in payment increases for some physicians and reductions for others. CMS is proposing to base the 2015 payment adjustments on physicians' quality and resource use in 2013 and to apply the modifier only to physicians who practice in groups of 25 or more physicians and other health professionals. By 2017, the modifier will be applied to all physicians.

Additional details on CMS' proposed implementation of the value-based modifier can be found on pages 559-622 of the proposed 2013 physician fee schedule. In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls web page. Early registration is encouraged.

Want to continue the discussion on the OSMA Community? Click here to post your thoughts and connect with your peers on the OSMA’s member-only forum.