Many lawmakers seek to discard the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which adjusts Medicare physician fees to limit spending. Their goal is fundamental reform of physician payment, shifting away from traditional fee-for-service reimbursement to other payment models that enhance the quality and efficiency of care. Regardless of how Congress addresses the SGR formula in the 114th Congress—via a permanent policy change or a temporary patch—the 2014 "SGR fix" proposal provides a framework for how payment reform in Medicare could be used to help transform the organization and delivery of health care.
In a new publication set for release in March, Mathematica senior fellow James Reschovsky unpacks the details of the proposed SGR replacement, including the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and several other payment models (such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes) encouraged in the legislation. Dr. Reschovsky and a panel of experts will discuss these value-based models in a policy forum hosted by Mathematica's Center on Health Care Effectiveness (CHCE). The panel will describe the opportunities and challenges involved in permanently repealing the SGR formula and moving away from traditional fee-for-service models in the context of past and ongoing Medicare health policy. Additional panelists will include Robert B. Doherty of American College of Physicians, Stuart Guterman of The Commonwealth Fund, and Mai Hubbard of Mathematica.
The forum will take place on Wednesday, March 11 from 12:00 to 1:30pm ET at Mathematica's Washington DC office and will also be available to view online as a webinar.