As reported about two weeks ago, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee majority (Republican) staff circulated a second draft of a joint framework for repealing the SGR. See AMA's written comments on that second draft here.

• The stable and predictable payment rates provided in the first phase of the proposal must also provide the foundation for the modified fee-for-service plan that is envisioned. Resources required to implement redesigns of care are significant, and negative incentives impede the practice investments that are required.   
• Value-based payments should be funded with "new" money and not be calculated on a budget neutral basis within the Medicare physician payment system. 
• Participation burdens for physicians need to be streamlined and simplified.   
• Physicians should be able to choose whether their performance incentive payments are based on a comparison with their own past performance or on their performance relative to peers. Participation in clinical improvement activities such as specialty-developed data registries in lieu of quality reporting should also qualify for incentive payments. 
• The alternative payment and delivery models that would exempt physicians from meeting the performance requirements imposed on the new fee-for-service system should include new models developed by physicians, including more incremental models that focus on specific conditions and disease management.  

   At this stage, the House proposal is best viewed as a framework, rather than a detailed plan for eliminating the SGR and transitioning to a new payment system. Nonetheless, the AMA views the committees' work as a very positive development. This is the second document that has been circulated. This focused attention on the Medicare physician payment system so early in the year, combined with the effort to solicit comments directly from physician groups, is encouraging. And, conceptually at least, the framework that is offered appears highly consistent with the principles that Federation groups endorsed last fall.

AMA Urges Attention to May 1st Deadline
   The upcoming deadline may impact physicians who order or refer services for Medicare patients, bill for ordered or referred services, or privately contract. Today physicians and health care providers who bill Medicare are required to list the name and National Provider Identifier (NPI) of the ordering/referring physician or health care provider on their claims in order to be paid. Starting May 1, 2013, if the ordering/referring physician or health care provider listed on the claim is not enrolled in Medicare OR does not have a valid opt-out affidavit on file, then the billing physician's claims will be denied.

    AMA has prepared an FAQ with helpful information to understand your responsibilities and what services are and are not covered.  For more information on Medicare enrollment, please visit  www.ama-assn.org/go/medicareenrollment.

   Voting members: if you have not already received materials regarding proposed bylaws amendments, you should receive them shortly. Please review the materials and return your ballot at your earliest convenience. Information related to the proposed amendments can be found online. If you have questions about your voting status, please contact Pia Duryea.  

   The Pub Crawl will take place on the U Street Corridor on Saturday, April 27 starting at 3:00 pm. The schedule is below:
        The Brixton (9th and U St)   3-4p

        Nellie's (9th and U St)    4-5p

        1920 Club (on 9th St)   5-6pm

        Tap n Parlour (10th and U St)   6-7pm

        Codmother (between 13 and 14th on U St)    7-8pm

        Tabaq (between 13 and 14th on U St)   8-9pm

        Local 16 (16th and U St)    9-until...

    Mass Casualty Event Preparedness and Response: Health Professionals