In a recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center, which examines current issues in the delivery system reform effort, states that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can wield important influence as a health care purchaser.

The report goes on to suggest Medicare payment amounts can also form the basis of commercial payers’ negotiated payment rates and reimbursement approaches.

“CMS has shown preliminary success in shifting Medicare’s delivery
system into value-based care.”

 The agency has already met its initial goal of tying at least 30 percent of Medicare payments to quality performance or value-based arrangements by 2016 and remains on track to cross 50 percent by 2018.