Questions about MACRA? You’ll find help here
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 makes sweeping changes to how Medicare will pay for physician services. The changes will have a significant impact not only on physicians, but also on the hospitals and health systems with whom they partner. The AHA has created a web page with definitions of terms, and links to resources and tools on key aspects of the new physician payment system. Go to http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/physician/index.shtml.
AHA issues compendium of appropriate-use toolkits
The AHA’s Physician Leadership Forum and the Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence initiative released a compendium of their toolkits to help hospital leaders, clinicians and patients examine the appropriate use of medical resources in five key areas: blood management, antimicrobial stewardship, ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, elective percutaneous coronary intervention and aligning treatment with patient priorities for use of the intensive care unit. The toolkits were developed with a broad group of national organizations and content experts based on a 2013 AHA white paper on reducing the use of non-beneficial services while improving health care overall. In an AHA Stat blog post, AHA Chief Medical Officer John Combes, M.D., encouraged hospitals to use the compendium and its discussion guide to explore the issue with their boards, medical staff and community leaders. To access the compendium, visit www.aha.org/appropriateuse.
Have you signed up for H&HN Executive Forum?
Hospital and health system leaders from around the nation will gather in Chicago on Oct. 25–26 for the first-ever H&HN Executive Forum. The forum will help attendees to understand what’s ahead for health care in 2017 and develop strategies for improving quality, embracing innovation and managing risk. In addition to executives from top U.S. health systems, public-policy leaders from the AHA and experts from the Joint Commission, among others, will participate in the forum. Visit www.hhnmag.com/executiveforum.
