August 25, 2017: MGMA sends Appendix I Committee Letter

MEDICARE RED TAPE RELIEF PROJECT   
MGMA RESPONSE: COMMITTEE LETTER
APPENDIX I 

August 25, 2017 
 
The Honorable Kevin Brady, Chairman     
Committee on Ways and Means
1102 Longworth House Office Building     
Washington, DC 20515    

The Honorable Richard Neal, Ranking Member
Committee on Ways and Means
1139E Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Patrick Tiberi, Chairman     
Subcommittee on Health
Committee on Ways and Means
1102 Longworth House Office Building     
Washington, DC 20515    

The Honorable Sander Levin, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Health
Committee on Ways and Means
1139E Longworth House Office Building  
Washington, DC 20515 
 
Dear Chairman Brady, Ranking Member Neal, Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Member Levin, 

On behalf of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), I commend you for initiating the “Medicare Red Tape Relief Project” to reduce legislative and regulatory burdens on Medicare providers that impede innovation, drive up costs, and stand in the way of delivering better care for Medicare beneficiaries. MGMA stands ready to work with you and your colleagues on the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health in creating a new era of innovative, high quality, and efficient care delivery untethered from excessive, one-size-fits-all regulations. 
 
MGMA is the premier association for professionals who lead medical practices. Since 1926, through data, advocacy and education, MGMA empowers medical group practices to create meaningful change in healthcare. With a membership of more than 40,000 medical practice administrators, executives, and leaders, MGMA represents more than 12,500 organizations of all sizes, types, structures, and specialties that deliver almost half of the healthcare in the United States. 
 
In addition to recommendations for reducing legislative and regulatory burdens on medical group practices outlined below, we are attaching the results of the MGMA 2017 Regulatory Burden Survey, which includes responses from more than 750 group practices with the largest representation in independent medical practices and in groups with 6 to 20 physicians. The results indicate no shortage of opportunity for the Medicare Red Tape Relief Project, as medical practices are currently flooded with red tape and bureaucracy, requiring redirection of limited resources from clinical quality improvement and patient care toward compliance with federal rules and regulations. In fact, more than 80% of respondents agree or strongly agree that a reduction in Medicare’s regulatory complexity would allow their practice to reallocate resources toward patient care.
 

View the full letter