Bill > S1871

This bill, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013, aims to reform Medicare by repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which was a mechanism used to control the growth of Medicare physician payments. Instead of the SGR, the bill proposes a new payment update system for physicians, starting with zero percent updates for several years and then transitioning to a modest 2% annual increase for certain participants in alternative payment models and 1% for others. It also introduces a Value-Based Performance (VBP) incentive program to reward physicians for quality and efficiency, consolidating existing quality reporting and performance programs into this new system. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to encourage care management for individuals with chronic conditions, improve the accuracy of physician fee schedule valuations, promote evidence-based care by establishing appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services, and enhance beneficiary access to information about physicians' services. The bill also extends funding for various programs, including those related to outreach and assistance for low-income individuals, and makes changes to Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals, as well as provisions related to ambulance services, hospital payment adjustments, and program integrity measures to reduce improper Medicare and Medicaid payments.