Doctors' group recommends reform steps

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PHILADELPHIA, July 30 (UPI) -- A physicians' group suggested to the U.S. Congress a transitional value-based payment initiative it said would improve quality and value for Medicare patients.

In a statement, Dr. David L. Bronson, president of the American College of Physicians, told Congress his physician organization's efforts and initiatives to promote high quality care could contribute to a solution to fixing the Medicare physician payment system.

"Repeal of Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate is essential, but repeal by itself will not move Medicare to better ways to deliver care," Bronson said in a statement. "We need to transition from a fundamentally broken physician payment system to one that is based on the value of services to patients, building on physician-led initiatives to improve outcomes and lower costs."

A patient-centered medical home provides patients with a personal physician who leads a team of individuals trained to provide comprehensive care and arranging all of a patient's health care needs that works together to ensure quality, safety and enhanced access to care.

"Payment policies should support physicians who participate in and engage their patients in efforts to provide clinical advice and education on high value and cost-conscious care and who deliver high quality, coordinated care through Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Patient-Centered Medical Home Neighbors," Bronson said.

Bronson recommended Medicare payment policies support efforts by the medical profession such as the American College of Physicians initiative.