Help #MGMAAdvocacy prevent cuts to Medicare in 2022!
MGMA has prepared a template letter for members to send to their congressional representatives urging them to prevent Medicare cuts slated to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for the CY 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which included a proposed conversion factor (CF) of 33.5848 (3.75% lower than the CY 2021 CF).
This decrease is attributed to the expiration of a short-term legislative fix that Congress passed at the end of last year to prevent cuts stemming from PFS payment policy updates and corresponding budget neutrality requirements. To prevent cuts to Medicare reimbursement in CY 2022, Congress must act again. Send a letter to your congressional representatives urging them to maintain the 3.75% increase to the conversion factor through at least CYs 2022 and 2023!
Deadline: Apply for Phase 4 Provider Relief funding by Oct. 26
Applications for Phase 4 of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) General Distribution are due by Oct. 26. This new $17 billion round of funding will be similar to the previous round distributed in Phase 3, which covered up to 88% of reported losses and net changes in operating expenses from patient care from the first half of 2020. However, Phase 4 will focus on lost revenues and changes in operating expenses from July 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021.
Phase 4 will also include new elements specifically focused on equity, including reimbursing smaller providers for their lost revenues and COVID-19 related expenses at a higher rate compared to larger providers and "bonus" payments based on the number of services furnished to patients in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). An additional $8.5 billion Rural Distribution, intended for providers who furnish services to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients in defined rural areas, is also available for consideration via the same application. For additional details on the PRF, you can reference MGMA's member resource.
