AAMC, Health Groups Urge Action to Sustain Medicare Value-Based Care Transition

The AAMC joined over 20 physician and health care organizations in a May 29 letter (PDF) urging congressional leadership to support continued investment in Medicare’s transition to advanced alternative payment models (APMs). The letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) emphasized the critical role of APMs in reducing health care costs, improving patient outcomes, and advancing coordinated care, particularly for chronic disease management and preventive services.

The signatories, representing more than 550 accountable care organizations, hospitals, and physician practices, expressed concern that the expiration of APM incentive payments and steep increases in qualifying thresholds in 2025 could derail progress and push providers back into more burdensome reporting systems. The letter calls on Congress to pass the Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act (H.R. 786/S. 1460) to extend incentives and prevent disruption to care delivery, especially in rural and underserved communities.