September 13, 2022: MGMA statement on the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022

MGMA statement on the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022

Anders Gilberg

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs

Medical Group Management Association

“MGMA strongly supports the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 as a critical first step in addressing the looming 2023 Medicare physician payment crisis. This important legislation would offset a proposed 4.42% cut to the Medicare physician conversion factor and set the stage for Congressional action to align Medicare payments with the cost of providing care.

Even with the stabilization offered by this bill, the Medicare conversion factor will be the lowest it has been in ten years at a time when medical groups face runaway inflation and significant workforce shortages. Freezes to Medicare payment rates have caused reimbursement to fall far below the true cost of furnishing care.

MGMA additionally calls on Congress to provide an inflationary update based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) and address the 4% statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) sequester. Moving forward we must find long-term, sustainable solutions to address quality and payment that will support the nation’s medical group practices in their mission to deliver only the highest quality care to the most vulnerable Americans.”