AMGA Urges Congress to Approve Additional COVID-19 Relief Package

Alexandria, VA – AMGA today emphasized the need for Congress to act swiftly to approve a much-needed additional COVID-19 relief package so that medical groups and integrated delivery systems can continue to operate in their communities and care for their patients.

“The overlap of COVID-19 and influenza could devastate our nation’s healthcare system, which has already been profoundly impacted by the pandemic,” stated AMGA President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A. “Congress needs to act now to ensure those on the front lines of this public health emergency have the resources needed to care for patients during and after the pandemic.”

Specifically, in a letter to key lawmakers, AMGA asked Congress to continue funding the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (Provider Relief Fund) in future legislative packages and to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue to exercise oversight over the distribution of these funds. Additionally, AMGA recommended that Congress approve the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act (H.R.7819/S. 4525), which would ensure that all monies directed at providers for relief are not subject to taxation. 

Other actions called for in the letter include: Reform the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program; permanently lift restrictive barriers related to telehealth; and enhance the Employee Retention Credit for employers’ taxes.

The full letter is available here.

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About AMGA
 AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of health care in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans.