MedPAC considered the following policy changes without definitely proposing them at this time, noting more study is needed.
Quality improvement
- Enhance Quality Improvement Organization’s new effort to assist providers who are low performers in quality measures.
- Direct low performers to get remedial help from private entities, such as high-performing providers, professional associations and consulting organizations.
- Change Medicare conditions of participation to include minimum standards that must be met by certain kinds of providers in order to be eligible for Medicare payments.
Financing graduate medical education
- Medicare funding to hospitals for residency programs would vary by specialty, taking into account that some specialties may require greater supervision costs and others may attract higher volumes of profitable services
Growth of ancillary services in physicians’ offices.
- Wait for new methods of financing under healthcare reform, which are
expected to dampen physician self-referral of ancillary services. For
example, a bundled payment for an episode of care, would incentivize
physicians to refrain from ordering unnecessary services. - Consider tightening the in-office ancillary services exception to the Stark law, such as not allowing selected in-office services, limiting the exception to clinically integrated practices or excluding diagnostic tests not usually provided in an office visit from the exception.
Read MedPAC’s report on Medicare policies.
Read some of Becker’s past stories on this topic
MedPAC Proposes Increases for Hospitals, Physicians; 0.6% Payment Increase for ASCs
Former MedPAC Member Says Cutting Costs Crucial for Health Reform
