MGMA's 2021 Advocacy Agenda

With a new Congress and Administration now in place, MGMA is working diligently to ensure your voice is heard. MGMA’s 2021 Advocacy Agenda outlines key issues we are tackling in Washington, such as prior authorization, maintaining access to care through telehealth, and advancing value-based care. Ensuring the sustainability of medical group practices is the foundation of our advocacy priorities, and we will continue to work with policymakers to shape legislation and regulations on behalf of our member group practices. Help MGMA advocate for physician practices by using #MGMAAdvocacy on social media.

Results are in: Many medical groups left out of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

A new MGMA poll reveals a staggering 85 percent of independent practices and 45 percent of hospital- or health system-owned practices actively seeking the COVID-19 vaccine for their patients report having obtained none to date. The majority of practices that have obtained the vaccine report only receiving enough to vaccinate one percent or less of their patients. The MGMA survey reflects responses from over 400 medical group practices that are already administering or planning to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to their patients. MGMA strongly urged the Biden Administration to include group practices in COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategies moving forward.

MIPS APMs: Learn about 2021 reporting changes in new MGMA resource

In response to new changes to performance requirements starting this year, MGMA created a member-benefit resource outlining the new APM Performance Pathway (APP), which applies to group practices that report for MIPS through an APM Entity.

In past years, clinicians participating in MIPS APMs were scored under the “MIPS APM” scoring standard. Starting in 2021, the MIPS APM scoring standard has been eliminated and replaced with the APP. The APP consists of a single, pre-determined set of quality measures that MIPS APM participants must report at the individual, group, or APM Entity levels. While the APP is optional for most MIPS APMs, it is required for all Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs. MIPS APMs that forgo reporting via the APP will be subject to generally applicable MIPS scoring policies, which include being measured on cost and reporting for improvement activities. Download MGMA’s new resource to learn more.

Upcoming MIPS Deadlines

MGMA members that participate in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) should note the following upcoming deadlines:

• Feb. 1: Last day to submit a 2020 MIPS extreme and uncontrollable circumstances application to request re-weighting of one or more MIPS categories due to COVID-19. Submit applications here.
• March 25: Preview period for clinician “Care Compare” closes. Care Compare is a transparency initiative that displays MIPS performance data on a public website; clinicians and groups may use the currently open preview period to ensure the accuracy of 2019 MIPS performance information and submit a targeted review of any inaccuracies before the data goes live in 2021.
• March 31: Deadline to report 2020 MIPS data through the QPP portal. Sign into your account on the QPP webpage.