MedPAC Releases June 2010 Report to Congress - June 22, 2010

On June 15, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its June 2010 Report to the Congress: Aligning Incentives in Medicare. The report discusses ways that Medicare can improve quality and utilize resources efficiently. Among other initiatives, the Report examines Medicare's provision of technical assistance to providers, and offers alternatives to the provision of technical assistance through quality improvement organizations (QIOs), including direct grants to providers. While the Report acknowledges some of the shortcomings of QIOs, it also discusses many of their advantages, including their wide geographic availability and focus on improving community health.