Statement attributable to:
Molly Cooke, MD, FACP
President of the American College of Physicians
(ACP)
July 31, 2013
(Washington) The American College of Physicians (ACP) commends the Energy and Commerce Committee for taking action today to unanimously approve a bipartisan bill to repeal the flawed Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Formula and create positive incentives for physicians to participate in initiatives to improve the quality and effectiveness of medical care.
As recommended by ACP, the bill provides five years of stable and positive fee-for-service updates for all physicians, followed by a new program that bases the annual updates on physicians' effectiveness in achieving measurable improvements in care coordination, patient experience, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Equally important, the bill promises to accelerate the growth of Patient-Centered Medical Homes, an innovative primary care delivery model that has been shown to improve outcomes and lower the costs of care for patients across the country.
It also creates strong incentives for physicians to recommend and participate in a variety of alternative payment models, not just models like medical homes that have a proven track record but also other "best practices" that have the potential to improve quality and lower costs. ACP looks forward to continuing to work with the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis to get legislation enacted this year that includes these and other key elements of the House Energy and Commerce Committee bill, plus additional improvements needed to accelerate the movement toward high value, patient-centered health care.
***
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include 137,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter and Facebook.
Contact:
David Kinsman, (202) 261-4554
dkinsman@acponline.org