Doctors urge Congress to eliminate MACRA opt-out policy

AMGA board members asked congressional lawmakers Tuesday to overturn or scale back CMS exemptions that let thousands of doctors opt out of MACRA.

So many doctors have been allowed to sit out from reporting under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System that it may no longer meet Congress’ goal of helping move Medicare from a fee-for-service to a value-based system, according to representatives from Prevea Health, UnityPoint Health and Oregon Medical Group. They met with lawmakers from both chambers and parties Tuseday, including members of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee.

“Yes, some practices would face penalties, but isn’t that the point in order to get them to make the change to value-based care?” said...