CMMI Issues Call for Ideas on Direct Provider Contracting

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation is soliciting feedback on the creation of a program that allows providers to contract directly with patients for care, sidestepping insurers and the Medicare program, in a new request for information published Monday. Under one scenario outlined by CMS, a medical practice could receive a lump sum payment from Medicare for each patient to cover basic primary care services with a chance to earn bonuses from CMS for additional care or quality. The model would give doctors the alternative of avoiding claims submission. Responses are due May 25.