Dear Secretary Price…

May 30, 2017 · NCQA Communications

Dear Secretary Price

So starts a letter signed by NCQA and nine leading health groups to Department of Health and Human Secretary Tom Price.  NCQA joined nine organizations in a letter to Secretary Price, proposing the Administration offer credit for advanced alternative payment model (APM) arrangements within Medicare Advantage (MA) as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

Many Co-Signers

NCQA co-signed the letter with the following national health organizations: CAPG, Healthcare Leadership Council, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Health Care Transformation Task Force, Pacific Business Group on Health, Direct Primary Care, Alliance of Community Health Plans, National Coalition on Health Care, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

“NCQA is proud to partner with these esteemed organizations that together are focused on the value-based agenda,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA President. ““Providing APM credits for doctors participating in advanced payment models under Medicare Advantage will encourage value-based arrangements and advance the nationwide movement to reward clinicians for the value of the care they provide, rather than the volume of care.”

Dear Mr. Secretary,

The organizations call on Secretary Price to “level the playing field and afford risk adjustments in the MA the same credit under MACRA as risk arrangements in traditional Medicare.”

The letter is on the NCQA website.