MGMA to Congress: Prevent Medicare cuts in 2022

MGMA and other leading health organizations wrote to Congress urging for a legislative solution to avoid Medicare reimbursement cuts in CY 2022. Specifically, the letter calls for Congress to maintain the 3.75% increase to the Medicare conversion factor through at least CYs 2022 and 2023. Following #MGMAAdvocacy, Congress mitigated the significant cuts slated for CY 2021 by injecting $3 billion into the physician fee schedule, which resulted in a 3.75% increase to the conversion factor. MGMA will continue to work with Congress to avoid further cuts in CY 2022.

Hundreds of stakeholders ask Congress to make telehealth flexibilities permanent

MGMA and hundreds of other stakeholders sent a letter to congressional leadership this week highlighting shared Medicare telehealth reform priorities and voicing concern over the “telehealth cliff,” which would occur once the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. In part, the groups asked to permanently remove geographic and originating site restrictions, remove the in-person visit requirement for mental telehealth services, and allow for audio-only reimbursement when clinically appropriate. Currently, most telehealth flexibilities are only in effect through the duration of the COVID-19 PHE. MGMA will continue to engage with Congress and the Administration to craft policies that allow medical practices to leverage telehealth to reach vulnerable patients while maintaining continuity of care.

Tell Congress to support improvements to APMs

Join #MGMAAdvocacy efforts to support recently reintroduced legislation that will make improvements to accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other alternative payment models (APMs) by sending a template letter to your congressional representatives. MGMA worked in tandem with the bill’s cosponsors and other national stakeholder groups to ensure that the Value in Health Care Act would be reintroduced. In addition to modifying and extending the advanced APM bonuses through 2030, the bill would make important modifications to risk adjustment rules and fix the “rural glitch” for ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Send a letter to your representatives today!