Washington, D.C. August 14, 2020 – In a letter sent yesterday, the American College of Physicians (ACP) provided feedback to the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) with the aim of helping to enhance their review of physician-focused payment models (PFPMs). In addition to ACP’s own letter, 13 other major health organizations also composed a separate letter that made similar recommendations.
“The American College of Physicians and our partner organizations are very supportive of moving toward value-based payments and testing innovative new alternative payment models that have the potential to improve care for patients while using resources more efficiently and lowering costs,” said Dr. Fincher. “We believe the PTAC can be an instrumental partner and offer these recommendations in the hopes of strengthening the authority and autonomy of the Committee and maximizing its effectiveness at progressing the spread of PFPMs”.
The recommendations outlined in both letters included a more fully empowered Committee with greater authority would be better able to bring to fruition more physician-focused Alternative Payment Models. The recommendations also specified certain model characteristics that address current gaps in the market and should warrant particular attention from the PTAC. These include models that engage specialists; encourage coordination across settings; offer consistent, predictable revenue streams; and encompass a substantial portion of payments or patients, or that can be layered with other models to do so.
ACP’s letter noted that the process of submitting its own proposal for payment model to the PTAC had given the organization unique insights into the submission process. The Medical Neighborhood Model proposal, submitted jointly by ACP and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, meets much of the criteria outlined as important to include in approved models.
“ACP continues its strong support of the PTAC and its mission to forward the development and implementation of physician-developed payment models,” said Dr. Fincher. “Physicians need innovative, predictable payment alternatives now more than ever and ACP offers our full assistance and support to the Commission in its important work to progress the implementation and adoption of payment models that were developed with patients and physicians in mind.”
The full recommendations of ACP’s letter and the joint letter can be found online.
***
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 163,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Contact: Taneishia Bundy, (202) 261-4523, tbundy@acponline.org