When did Medicare's Physician Pay for Performance program initiate?

The Medicare Physician Pay for Performance program was designed to incentivize high-quality care by rewarding providers based on their performance metrics. The initiative began in 2015 as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which aimed to transition from the previous fee-for-service model to a value-based payment system. This program was introduced for a specific group of physicians, with a broader rollout anticipated for all eligible providers by 2017.

This reflects a significant shift in how physician reimbursement is structured, emphasizing the importance of quality of care over the quantity of services provided. By linking payment to performance outcomes, Medicare aims to improve patient experience and health outcomes while controlling costs.