April 16, 2020: MGMA asks HHS/CMS to account for providers with low Medicare volumes in next round of CARES Act relief funds

April 16, 2020

The Honorable Alex Azar
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

The Honorable Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Re: CARES Act Relief Funds - Future Distributions

Dear Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma,

On behalf of our member medical group practices, the Medical Group Management Association
(MGMA) urges you to establish a mechanism to expeditiously disburse the next round of stimulus relief funds appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) to medical groups affected by COVID-19 that treat lower volumes of Medicare patients.

MGMA sincerely appreciates the Administration’s quick efforts to distribute the initial $30 billion in grants to providers. These funds will help medical groups keep their practices open and continue treating patients during this critical time. The first round of relief funds was disbursed based on providers share of Medicare-fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursements in 2019. MGMA received positive feedback from members regarding these payments and would again like to underscore the critical nature of these funds, considering that a recent MGMA survey indicated 97% of medical groups have experienced a negative financial impact related to COVID-19.
 

View the full letter