MedPAC Chair Sees NPs as Part of Primary Care Solution

From AANP

Glenn Hackbarth, the chairman of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) the independent commission that advises Congress on Medicare policies, told a House subcommittee last week that “nurse practitioners…are a necessary part of dealing with our primary care issues.”  Responding to questions from members of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee March 15, the MedPAC Chairman said, “I think that we have not taken full advantage of the capabilities” of NPs and other providers “and frankly I think we’re going to have to.”

Hackbarth presented MedPAC’s annual report to Congress on Medicare payment policies, including calling for the repeal of the “sustainable growth rate” (SGR) formula for updating fee-for-service payments.  Since the Congressional Budget Office has lowered the estimated cost of repealing the SGR, Hackbarth told legislators it would be possible for Congress to increase payment for primary care services as part of reform legislation.