U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking increased federal incentives for the provision of value-based care that could help improve health outcomes for America’s senior citizens.
The congressmen sent a March 8 letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) incent more provider participation by rapidly adopting modifications to existing alternative payment models (APMs).
“Adoption of value-based payments has played a critical role in slowing health care spending while improving quality over the last decade,” the lawmakers wrote. “Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize policies that incentivize responsible cost-savings and advance quality care for seniors, as intended by Congress.”
They pointed out that while the existing set of APMs offer opportunities for providers to engage in value-based care and have a proven record of generating savings while improving care for seniors, some program aspects hinder adoption, according to their letter.
“CMS should rapidly adopt policies that will improve participation in MSSP [Medicare Shared Savings Program] and other existing Innovation Center programs,” wrote the members.
They recommended six regulatory actions that would complement their legislative efforts, such as encouraging participation in the MSSP by restoring the percentage of shared savings that beginner participants receive to at least 50 percent, according to their letter.
Additionally, the members suggested that risk adjustment be modified to be more realistic and better reflect factors that participants encounter, such as health and other risk variables in their communities, among other suggestions.
Among the 38 other lawmakers who joined Rep. Kelly, Rep. Wenstrup, and Rep. LaHood in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Carol Miller (R-WV), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA).