Proposed Medicare Physician Payment Act Will Repeal the SGR

The proposed bill: "Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2012" was introduced by U.S. Representatives Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA) and Joe Heck, D.O. (R-NV) on May 9, 2012. The proposed bill will repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) as well as reform Medicare payments and delivery systems
Highlights of the bill include:

• Repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Permanently.
• Stabilize the current payment system
• Provide positive payment updates for all physicians.
• Institute interim measures to ensure access to care coordination and primary care services. 
• Aggressively test and evaluate new payment and delivery models. 
• Identify best practices and develop a menu of delivery model options.
• Provide alternative value-driver fee-for-service system 
• Establish a transition period.
• Reward clinicians for high-quality, high-value care while disincentivizing fragmented, volume-driven care.
• Ensure long term stability in the medicare physician payment system.

To download and view the full bill in detail, please go to the following link: Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2012