22 Oct Statement Regarding MedPAC October Session on the Evolution of Medicare’s Advanced Alternative Payment Models

Statement by Jeff Micklos, JD, Executive Director, Health Care Transformation Task Force

The Health Care Transformation Task Force (HCTTF or Task Force) appreciates the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) focus on the evolution of Medicare’s advanced alternative payment models during its October meeting. The Task Force has long advocated for a clear vision and roadmap for moving the industry away from fee-for-service to value-based payment, and the Commission’s discussion provides fruitful direction as policymakers consider future actions to promote a value-based system.

The Commissioners keyed in on important topics such as model design elements, implementation principles, and evaluation approaches that will be critical for the CMS Innovation Center to address in its second decade of testing innovative payment and care delivery. The Commissioners’ call for greater harmonization in model benchmarks and evaluation is welcome. Such an approach will allow providers to participate in alternative payment models without undue burden, and for the federal government to understand what works.

The Task Force also congratulates MedPAC chair Michael Chernew, PhD on his recent appointment. Dr. Chernew is a respected voice and scholar on alternative payment model design and evaluation. His research portfolio spanning value-based insurance design, accountable care organizations, and health care spending have contributed to important advancements and refinements in the field of payment reform and we commend his leadership on advancing the conversation on Medicare’s alternative payment models. MedPAC will be well served under his leadership.