March 18, 2020: MGMA joins coalition calling on CMS to allow flexibilities for QPP-participating clinicians

March 18, 2020

Ms. Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201

Re: COVID-19 issues affecting clinicians and organizations in value-based payment models

Dear Administrator Verma,

The undersigned organizations write to express appreciation for significant efforts underway by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanded telehealth services to help ensure the safety of patients. As physicians and hospitals are focused on defeating COVID-19 and using every resource at their disposal to do so, we urge CMS to take steps to ensure COVID-19 does not derail the Alternative Payment Model (APM) and value movement. As part of its response, CMS should allow flexibility with existing deadlines and requirements and take steps to ensure clinicians are not inappropriately penalized for the extreme costs of handling the pandemic so that they can continue to focus their energy on patient care.
 

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