The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated its intention to move at least 50% of Medicare payments from fee for service to alternative payment systems based on quality and/or value by 2018.  In furtherance of this goal, the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) passed earlier this year included a requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services publish a draft plan for developing quality measures to support these alternative payment models.  On December 18, 2015, CMS published its draft Quality Measure Development Plan: Supporting the Transition to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs) to create a framework for the development of these quality measures .  Although the plan is only in draft, it sheds important light on what Medicare payment systems are likely to look like commencing in 2019 and beyond.  Physicians and other providers who rely upon Medicare reimbursement for their livelihood should review the draft plan and keep a close eye on future developments in this area as changes will likely be sweeping.