November 10, 2020: MGMA and coalition urge CMS to cover supplies necessary to provide safe patient care during COVID-19

November 10, 2020 

The Honorable Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 445
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Administrator Verma:

The undersigned organizations represent the hundreds of thousands of physicians who provide care for our nation’s patients every day. The COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) public health emergency (PHE) has placed unprecedented strain on our physician members, including ongoing threats to their financial viability due to months of lost revenue from practice closures and/or operating at reduced capacity. In July and August 2020, the American Medical Association (AMA) surveyed 3,500 physicians who provided at least 20 hours of patient care per week prior to the pandemic. A strong majority (81%) of surveyed physicians said revenue was still lower than pre-pandemic, with an average drop in revenue of 32%. Compounding the financial stress of lost revenue, practices are also incurring additional costs for heightened infection control protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE). To help address the significant fiscal pressures placed on physicians by the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to immediately implement and pay for Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) code 99072 to compensate practices for the additional supplies and new staff activities required to provide safe patient care during the PHE.
 

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