AMA unveils MACRA tools for understanding how law may affect payments

With the finalization of MACRA just weeks away, and implementation mere months from launch, the American Medical Association unveiled Wednesday two online tools they hope will help doctors prepare for the sweeping changes ahead.

The AMA Payment Model Evaluator and The AMA STEPS Forward collection of educational modules are both available for use on the AMA website, and require only a login to site, not AMA membership, the organization said during a conference call.

The AMA Payment Model Evaluator offers initial assessments to physicians so they can determine how MACRA will impact their practices, and what path might best suit their group. It was developed with physicians and input from partners, and will give physicians and their staff a brief assessment, as well as relevant educational and actionable resources. Physicians and medical practice administrators need only access the AMA website, find the MACRA tools link on the bottom right side of the homepage, and click their way to the tool. Once they have filled out the online questionnaire, they will receive guidance for participating in the MACRA payment model most suited to them. The Evaluator will be continually updated in response to regulatory changes, and to keep practices up to speed throughout the reform process.

[Also: Doctors already burned out over policy requirements as MACRA rollout looms, survey finds]

The AMA has also added MACRA specific tools to its STEPS Forward is a collection of 'practice improvement strategies' with MACRA-specific tools. Each module focuses on a specific topic, offering practical solutions, implementation guidance, case studies, continuing medical education, and downloadable tools and resources.

"The proposed MACRA rule indicated that some of the STEPS forward modules would also help fulfill physicians clinical practice improvement requirements under MIPS," said Andrew Gurman, MD, AMA president.

The full collection now includes 42 modules, including implementing team-based care, electronic health record selection and implementation, preparing practices for value-based care, implementing team documentation, and Quality Reporting and the importance of Qualified Clinical Data Registries in maximizing success that can be found at www.stepsforward.org.

[Also: MACRA 'Pick Your Pace' plan brings needed flexibility, but worries persist]

Third, AMA launched a ReachMD a 7-episode podcast series called Inside Medicare's New Payment System. Andy Slavitt, CMS acting administrator, AMA staff experts, and others are featured on the series.

According to Gurman, they did not vet the tools with CMS. the tools have been in development for "quite some time", though he said it is hard to pinpoint the exact moment of inception, though he said it has been more than a year.

[Also: Interoperability crucial to MACRA, value-based care, experts say]

"This tool has been generated and compiled based on a fair amount of market research, talking to physicians mainly in small and medium sized practices throughout the land to find out what it is they need. That's what lead to the format, its formation, its content, so we are optimistic since we spoke to a lot of doctors and they told us 'this is what we want what we need'. Now that we are giving it to them we are very optimistic about its helpfulness, its utility, and its uptake," Gurman said.

Twitter: @BethJSanborn