Making Sense of MACRA: A Guide for Diagnostic Radiologists

Abstract

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 was signed into law on April 16, 2015, fundamentally altering the way clinicians are reimbursed for the treatment of Medicare patients starting in 2017. Under this new pay-for-performance model, reimbursement will be tied to multiple metrics related to quality and cost of care. A scaled scoring system will require providers to compete for positive reimbursement adjustments, while also penalizing poor performers with negative adjustments. A firm understanding of this new system will be essential for all physicians looking to maximize their reimbursement, particularly diagnostic radiologists and members of other highly focused fields where special considerations lead to alterations in the scoring system.