Senate Finance Committee leaders release white paper on Medicare physician pay reform

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, released a white paper May 17 outlining policy concepts regarding pay reform for Medicare physicians. The paper highlights areas that could undergo reform, including: creating sustainable payment updates to ensure clinicians can own and operate their practices; incentivizing alternative payment models that reward better care provided at a lower cost; how Medicare measures quality care; improving primary care; supporting chronic care benefits in Medicare fee-for-service; and ensuring continued telehealth access.