American College of Physicians commends MedPAC support for physician-directed care co...( Washington -- The American College of ...),Health

Washington -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) today commended the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) on the report it released this morning on redesigning Medicare payment policies to support physician-directed care coordination and to achieve better value for beneficiaries.

ACP concurred with MedPAC's conclusion that the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) is flawed and further called on Congress to repeal this annual physician fee schedule update methodology. The ACP expressed concern about several options discussed in the report that would replace the SGR with alternative spending targets that would introduce new administrative and political complexities without fixing the flaws inherent in the SGR.

In a letter signed by ACP President Lynne M. Kirk, MD, FACP to key Congressional health care committee members, ACP said the congressionally-mandated effort gives "an excellent, thorough, balanced and well-documented report on a very complex and critical issue."

The organization of 120,000 physicians and medical students noted that "a dysfunctional healthcare delivery and payment system directly contributes to the less than desirable quality and high costs currently experienced in this country."

In its letter, ACP reacted to three particular issues addressed by MedPAC:

• Problems with the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Sustainable-Growth-Rate (SGR) update methodology.

• The need to improve the value of the Medicare physician payment system.

The College noted its agreement with MedPAC that major reforms are needed to improve the value of the Medicare physician payment system.

ACP also emphasized that it is pleased with MedPAC's recognition of the value of promoting the use of primary care and physician-directed care coordination to increase clinical quality and efficiency. It added that it was surprised that little mention was mad
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Contact: David Kinsman
dkinsman@acponline.org
202-261-4554
American College of Physicians
1-Mar-2007