MGMA and Partner Orgs. Urge Congress to Prevent Full 4.5% Cut to Medicare Payment Rates

Originally published in the December 8, 2022, issue of MGMA’s Washington Connection
Reprinted with permission from MGMA

On Monday, MGMA and over 100 other healthcare stakeholder organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership urging action to avert the entire 4.5% reduction to Medicare payment rates scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2023. The letter illustrates the severity of this pending cut and the negative impact it will have on practices, especially in light of current inflationary pressures. As the Medicare physician fee schedule is the only Medicare payment system without an annual inflationary update, the pending 4.5% reduction will only exacerbate current financial concerns.

MGMA is continuing to advocate against this harmful reduction and for permanent payment reforms. Join in #MGMAAdvocacy today by sending a letter to your members of Congress to pass legislation to stop the full 4.5% payment reduction from taking effect.

NCMGMA Membership Dues Increase Beginning January 1st

As of January 1, 2023, NCMGMA membership dues will see an increase of $20 for Active, Faculty and Transitional memberships and $25 for Affiliate membership. To learn more about the benefits of membership and the NCMGMA membership types and qualifications, please click here (https://www.ncmgm.org/join-now).

Please note: if you have not already renewed your dues for the 2022-2023 year, you can renew prior to January 1st.

Membership Renewal Form

Questions
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the NCMGMA offices at info@ncmgm.org.

Call To Action: 31 Days Until Medicare Payment Cuts Take Effect

Originally published in the December 1, 2022, issue of MGMA’s Washington Connection
Reprinted with permission from MGMA

With just one month remaining in 2022, MGMA needs your immediate help urging Congress to take action to avert significant Medicare payment cuts set to take effect on Jan. 1. The time to act is now! Utilize our online portal to send a letter to your members of Congress today encouraging the passage of legislation to avert the 4.47% reduction to the Medicare conversion factor, waive the statutory 4% Pay-As-You-Go sequester, provide an inflationary update based on the Medicare Economic Index, and extend the alternative payment model 5% incentive payment.

Already sent a letter? Please share this link with everyone at your practice and ask them to do the same: www.congressweb.com/MGMA/67. Want to get the word out beyond your colleagues? Encourage others to get involved in this critical advocacy effort by sharing a post from our Medicare Cuts Advocacy Social Media Toolkit!

Without congressional action, these payment reductions will take effect and have a drastic impact on beneficiary access to care and group practice financial resiliency. Take a look at our survey results to see what others are saying about the payment cuts, including how they disrupt practice operations and overall investment throughout the healthcare industry. Join in #MGMAAdvocacy today calling for the swift passage of legislation to avert these devastating payment cuts!

Connect with NC’s Practice Administrators

Become an NCMGMA 2023 Alliance Sponsor

The NCMGMA 2023 Alliance sponsorship program delivers high-impact marketing and quality face-time with healthcare management decision-makers. Connect, support and engage with the practice managers of North Carolina!

Registration for the 2023 Alliance program is now open. Find participation details below and on our website, and click the button link to register today! Benefits take effect January 1, 2023!

How Alliance Works

Alliance provides a selection of core benefits that gain you access and exposure to the Active members of NCMGMA: the practice managers and administrators of NC’s healthcare industry. PLUS: you select the level-specific benefits package that best fits your marketing goals and objectives.

Alliance Core Benefits

2023 Alliance core benefits include: Affiliate membership in the NCMGMA; Annual Conference exhibit booth; recognition and link on the website and e-news site, NCMGMA News; NCMGMA News article submission; and access to the medical practice decision-makers in North Carolina.

How to Participate

2023 Alliance sponsorship registration is now open. To sign up today, follow the registration link below. 2023 Alliance benefits will take effect January 1, 2023.

Complete Alliance Details & Registration!

Questions

If you have any questions about the 2023 Alliance program, please contact the NCMGMA offices at info@ncmgm.org.

Start Strong in 2020: Important Dates for Physician Practices

Originally published in the December 19, 2020 issue of MGMA’s Washington Connection
Reprinted with permission from MGMA

Transitioning to a new year means important federal program deadlines and launches. Below are key dates that executives should know as they prepare their medical practice for success in 2020.

DEC. 31

• Check MIPS 2019 eligibility by year’s end
  Clinicians are encouraged to confirm their 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligibility status by using the QPP Participation Status Tool to determine whether they must report data in 2020. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently concluded its second review of Part B claims and PECOS data spanning Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30 of this year.
• Deadline to submit MIPS hardship and exception application
  Promoting Interoperability and Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception applications for the MIPS 2019 performance year must be submitted by Dec. 31. MIPS participants in FEMA-designated disaster areas are automatically exempt from reporting and will have all four performance categories re-weighted to 0% of their final score.
• Deadline to review and dispute program year 2018 Open Payments data
  Visit the CMS Open Payments website to review data submitted from drug and device manufacturers describing any payments made to physicians in your practice. Clinicians have until the end of the year to dispute any incorrect information.

JAN. 1

• New 2020 Medicare payment rules and MIPS requirements
  The 2020 Physician Fee Schedule begins, which includes payment updates for Medicare services, changes to billing guidance for certain codes, and modifications to reporting requirements under MIPS. These details are outlined in MGMA’s member-exclusive analysis.
• Use of MBI on Medicare claims starts
  Starting Jan. 1, Medicare claims are required to contain the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in order to be processed. For patients who do not present with their new card, practices can get their MBI via your Medicare Administrative Contractor. Members can access the MGMA New Medicare Card Toolkit to prepare for the transition.
• AUC education and testing period begins
  Jan. 1 marks the start of the one year educational and operations testing period for the CMS Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) program. Download the member-benefit AUC Toolkit to learn more.

JAN. 2

• MIPS 2019 data submission period starts
  2019 MIPS performance data can be submitted to CMS from Jan. 2 through March 31. Authorized representatives can submit clinician and practice data via the QPP webpage.

JAN. 22

• Close of Primary Care First and Kidney Care Choices application period
  Jan. 22 is the deadline to apply for the Primary Care First (PCF) Model and Kidney Care Choices (KCC) Model. PCF will be offered in 26 geographic regions starting in 2021, and the KCC Implementation Period will begin later in 2020. MGMA will share links to several informative resources prior to the deadline for practices seeking to understand whether these models are right for them.