MGMA advocates for additional relief for physician practices, ACOs

Last week, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the ‘‘Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act,” which includes several provisions that directly pertain to medical practices. The legislation would make further amendments to the PPP, Medicare’s Advance Payment Program, and the Provider Relief Fund. While this bill is not expected to pass due to lack of bipartisan support, MGMA offered several key recommendations for consideration as Congress works to come to a bipartisan agreement.

Additionally, MGMA and other industry-leading associations have urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide flexibility for practices participating in a Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) and to protect them from potentially harmful losses created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, MGMA called on CMS to:

• Adopt a policy to give ACOs an option to be protected from losses in exchange for a reduced shared savings rate, no less than 40%;
• Extend the current June 1 Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) deadline to voluntarily terminate to avoid financial losses to no earlier than Oct. 31;
• Reverse its decision to cancel the 2021 MSSP application cycle; and

Pay ACO shared savings payments and advanced alternative payment model bonuses as soon as possible

Urge Congress to Support Physician Practices During COVID-19

Originally published in the March 23, 2020 issue of MGMA’s Washington Connection
Reprinted with permission from MGMA

As Congress works to pass additional emergency funding legislation to combat COVID-19, your help is needed to support medical practices during this public health emergency. Use MGMA’s draft letter to ask Congress to:

• Ensure that every physician and healthcare worker has access to critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Provide direct financial support to medical practices experiencing an adverse economic impact from suspending visits and procedures unrelated to COVID-19;
• Provide direct financial support to medical practices on the front lines of the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
• Require all payers to provide coverage and payment for telehealth visits (including audio-only) at the same reimbursement as in-person visits.

To send your letter to Congress, click here.