The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) introduced significant changes, on an ambitious timeline, to how Medicare will pay oncologists for the care they provide—and now is the time to understand and prepare for these changes.

Passed in April 2015, MACRA repeals the fundamentally flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula for reimbursement related to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The program will be fully implemented by 2019, and will have a profound impact on reimbursement and care delivery for oncology practices throughout the United States.

MACRA will transform all oncology practices in two major ways:

1. How practices conduct their Medicare reporting requirements
2. How physicians are reimbursed for the services they provide to Medicare beneficiaries

The ultimate goal of the new law is to move toward a value-based practice environment that ensures high-quality, affordable health care. ASCO has long embraced this goal and has dedicated significant resources to providing oncologists with the foundation needed to move into the MACRA era.

Guided by a committed group of volunteers, ASCO will be a partner for practices in MACRA implementation, providing a wide range of resources and tools designed to help practicing oncologists adapt to and satisfy MACRA requirements.

An ASCO in Action Brief, MACRA: Transforming Oncology Practice, provides an introduction to the new law, a snapshot of the key changes and new payment options resulting from MACRA implementation, and next steps practices must take to prepare.

ASCO also held a webinar, “MACRA: Learn the Basics, Get Ready for a Post-SGR,” in December 2015. The webinar recording and presentation slides, as well as the full brief, can be found online.