NE Washington News

Washington D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered opening remarks at today’s Health Subcommittee hearing titled “Checking-In on CMMI: Assessing the Transition to Value-Based Care.”

"The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation was created to help improve how Medicare and Medicaid pay for health care and be an engine in our drive towards value-based care," said Rodgers.

Rodgers highlighted that CMMI was given a 10-year, $10 billion budget with broad authorities but limited congressional oversight. She noted that Congress directed CMMI to achieve two goals: lower the cost of delivering care and improve patient outcomes. "Over the last decade and a half, CMMI has tested over 50 models. Only two accomplished both of those goals," she stated.

She pointed out discrepancies between projected savings and actual spending. "Originally, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that CMMI would save $1.3 billion over its first decade of operation," Rodgers said. However, instead of reducing spending by $1.3 billion, CMMI increased spending by $5.4 billion in its first decade.

"For this second decade, instead of saving 77.5 billion dollars, CBO is now projecting CMMI to increase spending by $1.3 billion," she added.

Rodgers expressed skepticism about describing CMMI as a success based on these results and questioned how to move forward. "Today, we’re joined by Dr. Elizabeth Fowler, the current Director of CMMI, to discuss the Center’s work and understand why it has failed to live up to its intended purpose thus far."

She acknowledged that Dr. Fowler had not been with CMMI throughout its entire existence but emphasized her responsibility for correcting the program's trajectory.

Rodgers also criticized CMMI for devaluing drugs approved through the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway and shifting focus away from developing new Alternative Payment Models (APMs). "CMMI’s decision to cut reimbursements unilaterally for drugs approved via Accelerated Approval undercuts this mission," she remarked.

However, Rodgers did recognize some positive outcomes from CMMI's recent work, including building on the Accountable Care Organization model and efforts to improve care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

"Lowering the costs of health care in this country has been a primary mission of this Committee this Congress," she concluded, stressing the importance of keeping CMMI focused on its intended mission rather than pursuing alternative agendas.

"Dr. Fowler, I am grateful you are here to share your expertise and eager to hear what lessons CMMI has learned and how we can get it back on track to lower costs and improve care."