MGMA SUPPORTS POLICIES TO ALLEVIATE ONEROUS REGULATORY BURDENS

The Senate Committee on the Budget and House Committee on Small Business both held hearings centered on over regulation in healthcare. MGMA submitted written testimony outlining the negative effects of onerous administrative burdens on medical groups and recommending policy solutions that promote innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective care delivery untethered from excessive, one-size-fits-all regulations. 

Read our full testimony here. Utilize our Contact Congress portal to send letters to your policymakers on these critical issues.

OCR FINALIZES RULE ON NONDISCRIMINATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) finalized its rule updating regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The rule clarifies and strengthens protections for people with disabilities – ensuring treatment decisions are not based on stereotypes or biases, adopts enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, sets forth a technical standard for accessible websites and mobile applications, and more.

See OCR’s fact sheet for more information.

MEDICARE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RELEASES 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

The Medicare Board of Trustees released their 2024 annual report, projecting the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2036. This is five years later than the Board’s estimate from last year. The report also highlights physician payment and anticipates access to Medicare-participating physicians would become a significant issue in the long term without payment reform.

CMS RELEASES 2022 QPP PARTICIPATION & PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released participation and performance data for the 2022 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). CMS has resources available in the QPP Resource Library that provide information on payment adjustments, final 2022 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores, and more.