Orange, California Jul 26, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists (ACMSS™) and the American College of Clinical Documentation Outcomes (ACCDO) agree with the move by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) late Tuesday to reinstate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) risk adjustment payment program and update its methodology, after it froze more than $10 billion in payments to insurers earlier this month. CMS said that making the move immediately and without a comment period “is imperative to maintain stability and predictability in the individual and small group health insurance markets.”
When CMS froze $10.4 billion in payments in early July, insurers warned of future turmoil in the markets. It was feared that with the payments on hold, health insurance premiums would rise significantly. America’s Health Insurances Programs (AHIP) said in a statement at the time: “We are very discouraged by the new market disruption brought about by the decision to freeze risk adjustment payments. This decision comes at a critical time when insurance providers are developing premiums for 2019 and states are reviewing rates. This decision will have serious consequences for millions of consumers who get their coverage through small businesses or buy coverage on their own.”
“Both ACMSS and ACCDO support maintaining stability in the insurance markets and the U. S. healthcare system as a whole, while encouraging greater stiulus toward healthcare transformation, care and cures,” said ACMSS | ACCDO Executive Director Kristin Hagen. “The risk adjustment program and a solid methodology behind it helps to balance risk and share costs throughout the markets, protecting higher-need patients who need more intensive healthcare services.”
ACMSS and ACCDO also support the ACA’s individual mandate, which is another mechanism that serves to stabilize health insurance markets and balance the risk pool. Because of the federal tax bill passed last year, penalties related to the individual mandate will no longer be levied after Jan. 1, 2019, effectively eliminating the ACA’s individual mandate. Some states, such as Vermont and New Jersey, have recently acted on their own, enacting state-level individual mandates, and ACMSS and ACCDO support such initiatives in the absence of federal action.
“ACMSS and ACCDO invite everyone in healthcare to join us in advocating for retaining the individual mandate nationwide,” said Hagen. “ACMSS and ACCDO oppose any moves that undermine patient protections and the ACA, and hope that lawmakers will work together to introduce bipartisan legislation that will improve upon and strengthen the ACA, and will vote down partisan attempts to dismantle it.”
America has opportunities to elevate 21st century healthcare based upon fall cooperative agreements anticipated to be announced by ACMSS | ACCDO in September 2018. MACRA will build upon value-based care and these objectives and opportunities. Until that time, ACMSS and ACCDO hold firm on minimum CEHRT federal care that protects all Americans through continued access to essential health benefits and care, and maintains affordability to ensure everyone has basic care services available. In addition, consumers equally share and pay in to maintain coverage and coordinated care, transforming a healthcare system in need.
About ACMSS™
The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, is the nation’s only nonprofit professional society representing more than 23,000 Certified Medical Scribe Specialists in over 2,300 medical institutions fulfilling a national mission-filled purpose. The ACMSS certification program meets current and proposed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certification requirements toward use of electronic health records. ACMSS advances the needs of the medical scribe industry through certification, public advocacy, secure innovative systems design, individualized and customized consulting, tailored webinars, and continuing scribe education for improved care coordination and patient-centric care toward wellness. ACMSS works independently in compliance with CMS to meet national goals and initiatives of MACRA and its Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Certified Medical Scribe Specialists also meet the qualified personnel requirements in Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT). ACMSS has also created an exclusive partnership with Career Step to create a one of a kind industry launch to the medical scribe specialist industry in comprehensive education and training for the Certified Medical Scribe Specialist medical student and aspiring allied health professionals passionate about higher-level learning and career opportunities.
About ACCDO
The American College of Clinical Documentation Outcomes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving healthcare non-profit entities, non-profit organizations, accredited academic institutions, and the community at large, hosting meaningful conversations with physicians, clinicians, and patients about becoming involved, and creating meaningful connections and educational materials on improving 21st century clinical care. Activities are focused on charitable contributions, research, advocacy, events, and creating new educational material focused on evidence-based care and cures. Integrative medicine, functional medicine, and functional nutrition and holistic care are centerpieces along with the importance of reaching both clients and patients of the healthcare system. ACCDO advocates on behalf of all Americans to enable awareness and access to the latest research for scientific cures from preventive medicine to precision medicine. ACCDO also advocates and fills its mission of prevention and access to care for airbag survivors of accidents caused by airbag malfunctions and helps individuals gain access with necessary care to healthcare options tailored toward their individual care and needs.
Please contact ACMSS Executive Director Kristin Hagen directly at info@theacmss.org or 800-987-3692 if you have any questions regarding the ACMSS and ACCDO programs and/or materials.
CONTACT: Kristin Hagen, CMSS, CPHIMS
Executive Director, American College of Medical Scribe Specialists
(800) 987-3692
Media Contact
American College of Medical Scribe Specialists, a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit Organization khagen@theacmss.org (800) 987-3692 333 City Blvd. West, Suite 1700 https://TheACMSS.org
