Groups ask Congress to include ACO bill in reconciliation package

AHA and 11 other organizations representing hospitals and physicians yesterday urged House and Senate committee leaders to include in the budget reconciliation bill the Value in Health Care Act (H.R. 4587), legislation to strengthen Medicare’s value-based payment models and accountable care organizations. 

“The reforms in this legislation are projected to save the Medicare Trust Fund $280 million over 10 years and will further strengthen [accountable care organizations and alternative payment models] and ensure their continued success,” the organizations said in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate committees with Medicare jurisdiction. “We are pleased that the bill removes barriers to participation, provides appropriate shared savings rates, modifies risk adjustment methodologies, improves the fairness and accuracy of benchmarks, and provides educational and technical support for ACOs. The bill also makes important steps to reinforce the transition to value through extending and modifying Advanced APM bonuses and addressing aspects of APM overlap. To advance goals of addressing health inequities, the bill directs a study of the impact of value-based care on health equity. These reforms will ensure that value-based care models continue to be viable for physician and hospital participants.”