U.S. Representatives Joe Heck (R-Nev.) and Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) will release details of a new proposal that aims to repeal the sustainable growth rate formula that sets Medicare physician payment rates.
The proposal would increase payment rates for primary care and specialty doctors and create a testing period for CMS to evaluate new payment models that would determine best practices and delivery options. The plan also would facilitate a transition period to implement the new models. Although physicians would be allowed to remain in the traditional fee-for-service payment system, reimbursement rates in the system would decrease to encourage them to switch to one of the new models.
