CMS Acting Administrator implores payers to simplify their health plans & ease administrative burden for physicians

Payers across the nation often have different portals, which is a key point of frustration for physicians. This frustration prompted CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt to ask insurers to simplify their health plans and reduce the administrative burden for providers at America's Health Insurance Plans' National Conference, according to MedPage Today.

Based on comments about the final MACRA rule, MR. Slavitt learned the key takeaway physicians have about MACRA is its emphasis on a high number of measures. This feedback led CMS to cut the number of reporting requirements in half. Therefore, payers could follow suit, reducing the many requirements they place on providers and thereby simplify the reporting process.

In response to pushback about CMS' Innovation Center creating more confusion in the healthcare system, he said there are two theories. The first entails a new model that could "save" the system, while the second is about  understanding providers are diverse and operate in many kinds of practices. Mr. Slavitt said, "If you believe that second theory, then you believe you've got to find a way to learn, improve and share learnings ... to do that you need a vehicle to be able to test things."

Mr. Slavitt said Medicare continues to have a health equity issue, especially for those Americans residing in rural areas or in certain socioeconomic standings. He said Medicare Advantage plans, which have increased 60 percent since the ACA's implementation, could work lessen this gap. Mr. Slavitt said, "When Medicare Advantage says, 'We can do it better; we can keep people out of the hospitals; we can get people to the physician they need; we can coordinate care better; we can give people who are equivalent a better experience,' the brand of Medicare Advantage will take off."

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