Senate Finance Committee posts white paper on physician payment reform

On May 17, 2024, the Senate Finance Committee posted a white paper on physician payment reform, highlighting areas of interest that are largely aligned with those recommended for consideration by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), American Medical Association (AMA), and many other medical societies and organizations. Some of the key areas include:

• Payment fluctuation
• Payment adequacy
• Budget neutrality adjustments
• Incentivizing participation in Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
• Rethinking the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)
• Reducing administrative burden
• Improving primary and chronic care
• Continuing access to telehealth
• Providing value across the Medicare program

The information outlined in this white paper could potentially impact future legislation as well as actions by the bipartisan Medicare Payment Reform Working Group, which was also convened in May. The AASM will continue advocating for physician payment reform and will keep AASM members informed of any further action by the Senate Finance Committee as well as opportunities for members to participate in payer advocacy efforts.

Members may send questions about the AASM’s physician payment reform advocacy efforts to coding@aasm.org.