On March 20, the Partnership to Empower Physician-Led Care (PEPC) sent a letter to Congressional leaders, highlighting a series of requests that would reduce administrative and financial burden for independent physicians and practices fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines in communities across the country. These requests include:
- Reprieve in reporting requirements for government programs in 2020, including for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program.
- Significant new funding for the U.S. Small Business Association’s lending program, including specific set asides for independent physicians and practices.
- Delay implementation of the sequester for 2 years and increase funding to support Medicare physician services during the COVID-19 national emergency.
- Support learning programs that enable rural and underserved areas to coordinate with other clinicians that are responding to and treating cases of COVID-19 so that these providers may learn from others. Ideally, this would be funded through a federal funding mechanism to speed implementation of these learning programs and to avoid patchwork implementation by states.
- Extend the advanced alternative payment model (AAPM) bonus available to providers through the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) for an additional five years.
- Pass legislation to improve the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) for all accountable care organizations (ACOs), but especially those in rural areas (S. 2648/H.R. 5212).
Read the full letter here.