RUC adds two new members

The panel of physicians that makes recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services about the relative value of physician services has voted to add two new members to its current roster of 29.

The American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee, known as RUC, is adding a permanent seat for a representative from the American Geriatric Society (AGS) and a rotating seat for a primary care physician.

"The awarding of a permanent seat is further recognition of the ways in which the expertise of geriatrics health professionals is integral to ensuring that the healthcare system provides high quality care to older adults," said AGS' leadership in a letter to its members posted to its website Wednesday.

"We are looking forward to continuing to work on improving how geriatrics services are valued by Medicare," the letter concludes. "The RUC offers us an important vehicle for ensuring that payment supports the provision of high-quality, well-coordinated care to older adults."

The RUC's vote comes a month before a deadline to respond to a letter sent by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) last June. In that letter, the AAFP, which has been among the voices criticizing RUC for its reliance on specialists over primary care physicians and what it argues are the resulting inequities in physician payment, demanded RUC make some specific changes that would result in more equity for primary care physicians.

The AAFP requested five specific changes, including that RUC add more seats for primary care and offer a permanent seat for geriatrics. The organization asked that RUC respond to its requests by March 1. At the time of receipt of AAFP's letter, RUC confirmed that it would review the requests.

[See also: AAFP seeks changes from the RUC.]

While it seems RUC has fulfilled AAFP's request for a permanent geriatrics seat, AAFP has not yet received an official response to its letter, said Douglas Henley, MD, AAFP's executive vice president and CEO.

"We are awaiting their official response," Henley said. "I'm sure it's forthcoming since the RUC just met. Our board meets in about a month from now…. and that's when our board will review the official response from the RUC in terms of what the totality of their changes have or have not been in the context of our letter from last year. Our board will have to determine at that time whether that's enough or not in terms of our continued participation in the RUC."

Follow HFN associate editor Stephanie Bouchard on Twitter @SBouchardHFN.