Washington, D.C. — In June, CAP joined with leaders in the health policy community and physicians in urging Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell to issue new policies on Medicare payment reform. Center for American Progress Vice President for Health Policy Topher Spiro issued the following statement on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcing a proposed rule to implement Medicare payment reforms for cardiac procedures in locations across the country:
Cardiovascular medical procedures are among the most common for Medicare recipients and a natural choice for a mandatory bundled payment demonstration. Results from the Acute Care Episode Program demonstration project suggest that both providers and the Medicare program can realize savings and quality improvements by aligning hospital and physician interests and allowing both to share savings that result from delivery of high-quality, more efficient care.
Bundled payments are an important tool of the Affordable Care Act. We hope that the previously adopted bundled payment model for orthopedic procedures and this one will catalyze other payers to adopt similar bundled payments.
CAP has regularly called on Medicare to expand its successful bundled payment models, including the agency’s Acute Care Episode demonstration project. CAP has argued that expanding successful payment reforms is a critical tool for Medicare in its efforts to hold down health care costs and improve the quality of care for beneficiaries.
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For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Liz Bartolomeo at [email protected] or 202.481.8151.