June 21, 2023: MGMA sends E&C subcommittee recommendations for SUPPORT Act reauthorization

June 21, 2023   

Re: Reauthorization of The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act of 2018

Dear Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Eshoo:

On behalf of our member medical group practices, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) thanks you for your work to reauthorize the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act of 2018 and appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback to the Subcommittee.

With a membership of more than 60,000 medical practice administrators, executives, and leaders, MGMA represents more than 15,000 medical groups in which more than 350,000 physicians practice. These groups range from small private practices in rural areas to large regional and national health systems, and cover the full spectrum of physician specialties and organizational forms, making MGMA well-positioned to offer the following feedback.

While the Subcommittee is reviewing the reauthorization the SUPPORT Act, MGMA urges consideration of certain policies that would help bolster medical groups‘ ability to offer high-quality behavioral and mental health telehealth care. These last few years have seen the expansion of telehealth for behavioral services to meet an increased demand that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty percent of MGMA members surveyed last fall said they are looking at adding or expanding behavioral health services in 2023.1 Ensuring medical groups have the tools to treat patients effectively – especially those in rural communities or areas experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals – is vital to a well-functioning health system.
 

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