Medicare Access Improvement: Equalizing Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Services.
This Act modifies how beneficiaries are assigned to Medicare Shared Savings Programs (ACOs) by including primary care services provided by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists. This means that visits to these professionals will hold the same weight as physician visits when qualifying for shared savings programs. The goal is to increase access to care and improve health cost management for Medicare recipients, especially where physician access is limited.
Key points
Changes to Medicare Shared Savings Program (ACO): Starting January 1, 2025, primary care services provided by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists will be considered when assigning patients to ACO programs.
Greater flexibility in care choice: Medicare patients gain more flexibility in choosing primary care providers, as visits to the aforementioned specialists will count equally to physician visits for shared savings program qualification.
Potential improvement in access to care: Facilitating inclusion in ACO programs based on visits to other qualified specialists may improve access to primary care, particularly in areas with physician shortages.
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