More than 120 physicians, practice managers and office staff from Genesee and surrounding counties, gathered at the Flint Golf Club on Thursday for a town hall meeting which focused on MACRA. Titled ACA & MACRA in the New Political Environment: How to Thrive in Value Based Health Care was held by the Genesee County Medical Society (GCMS) in collaboration with the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA).

The next few years will bring significant changes with the transition from fee for service to new value-based payment models under Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Success in orienting to new payment models will require changes in how physicians work while continuing to remain patient-centric. The changes will impact physicians in independent small and medium sized practices differently than employed physicians in larger systems.

Speakers for the conference included former AMA president, J. James Rohack, MD, who focused on the AMA's STEPS Forward™ program and how it can help physicians during this time of regulatory change. Stacey Hettiger, MSMS's Director of Medical and Regulatory Policy, also presented on how MSMS will provide support for physicians as they move forward with the new payment models.