March 15, 2022: MGMA Statement on MedPAC's March 2022 Report to Congress

 

MGMA Statement on MedPAC's March 2022 Report to Congress

Anders Gilberg

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

Medical Group Management Association

“MGMA is deeply troubled by today’s MedPAC report and recommendation to Congress that it provide no annual payment update for physician services in 2023, especially in the context of experiencing the highest annual inflation rate in 40 years. With reinstatement of the 2% Medicare sequester penalty scheduled to begin phasing-in in a few short weeks, physician practices are already set to face serious financial impacts — at a time when they are still reeling from pandemic related disruptions, rampant staffing shortages and skyrocketing expenses — making MedPAC’s decision even more out of touch with the reality physician practices face every day. 

As MGMA has continued to warn, without a modest annual payment update to keep up with the cost of inflation, physician practices will inevitably be forced to make difficult decisions about their Medicare participation — decisions that would certainly result in diminished access to the critical healthcare services on which beneficiaries rely. To ensure the financial stability of physician practices and protect beneficiaries’ access to care, MGMA urges Congress to make critical updates to physician payment including the permanent repeal of the 2% Medicare sequester, an update to Medicare payments in 2023 that reflects actual inflation, and an extension of the 5% incentive payment for participants in alternative payment models.”