Wait-and-see is no longer a viable strategy for payment reform—especially with regard to MACRA implementation.
In my 30 years serving healthcare practices, I have seen innovations come and go. I certainly understand the impulse to sit back and let the dust settle before rushing to implement a new regulation, and the steady Republican drumbeat of “repeal and replace” is enough to give any provider pause.
But know this: the evolution of payment models from volume to value has decades of momentum behind it. With strong bipartisan support, MACRA is the vehicle by which CMS is incentivizing physicians to deliver better quality care at lower costs. While Congress and CMS might tweak the implementation timelines or other details, MACRA is here to stay.
Yet physicians, by and large, still have limited awareness of this sweeping payment reform. A September 2016 survey by The Physicians Foundation found that out of more than 17,000 physicians, only 5.9% were “very familiar” with MACRA and 14% were “somewhat familiar.” One-third of respondents were “very unfamiliar” with the law. Even those health systems and practices that are familiar with the law struggle with a lack of technological and human resources to comply with its requirements.
Getting Ready for MACRA
But there’s no going back to the days of unchecked growth in healthcare costs. Delivering higher quality care at lower costs to a healthier population is simply a better business model.
So here’s your choice: Join the march, or be left behind. The following steps are a good place to start, if your health system or medical practice hasn’t already taken them:
These steps are not sequential; the most successful organizations are pushing forward aggressively on all of these fronts. At the same time, don’t let the complexity of MACRA implementation overwhelm you and stop you in your tracks. Lean on your advisors and technology vendors for support in each of these areas. We also recommend naming a champion within your organization to act as a resource, model desired behavior, and support critical infrastructure investments.
Most importantly, don’t sit back and wait. All payers are moving toward the Triple Aim, and MACRA represents a true opportunity to advance your organization toward the goal of better care for individuals, better health of populations, and lower costs for our healthcare system.
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