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Former CMS Chiefs: Medicare SGR Problem Can Be Fixed

The Senate Finance Committee convened a group of former Medicare administrators today: Gail Wilensky (1990-92), Bruce Vladeck (1993-97), Thomas Scully (2001-2003) and Mark McClellan (2004-6) to discuss how they viewed the current crisis on physician fees and the sustainable growth rate formula (the “doc fix” problem). Each discussed the RBRVS (the resource-based relative value scale) system which helps determine how much physicians are paid and called for a more “bundled” approach to treating Medicare patients. In addition, Scully said the 1992 congressional decision to give the American Medical Association clout is these decisions was “a mistake.”

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