AMGA Advocacy

 

AMGA advocates on behalf of its members who serve as America’s first and strongest line of defense against COVID-19. While AMGA’s members work tirelessly to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of COVID-19, AMGA’s public policy team also is hard at work urging lawmakers to support medical groups and health systems. This page provides crucial updates on AMGA’s legislative and regulatory affairs efforts surrounding COVID-19 relief.

Press Releases

• Congress Recognizes Need for Additional COVID Relief with $1.9 Trillion Package;
  Congress Must Act to Prevent Medicare Cuts (March 10, 2021)
• AMGA Members Offer Vaccination Experience, Expertise to Biden Administration;
  Physician Offices Crucial to Achieving Goal of 100 Million Vaccinations (February 01, 2021)
• Surge in COVID Cases Needs Immediate Congressional Action;
  AMGA Calls for Additional Funding Support, Policy Improvements for Frontline Providers (November 16, 2020)
• AMGA Opposes Provider Relief Fund Reporting Changes
  HHS Guidelines Do Not Capture Extent of Loses for Healthcare Providers (October 21, 2020)
• CMS Physician Fee Schedule Proposals Create Uncertainty for AMGA Members (October 5, 2020)
• AMGA Urges Congress to Approve Additional COVID-19 Relief Package (September 16, 2020)
• AMGA Endorses Medicare Telehealth Expansion
  New Flexibilities Needed Beyond COVID Emergency (June 01, 2020)
• AMGA and Physician Organizations Call for HHS to Support Audio-Only Telehealth Services (April 27, 2020)
• Medical Groups and Integrated Health Systems Face Closure Without Immediate Financial Relief
  Initial CARES Act Fund Covered Less than a Week of Lost Revenue (April 21, 2020)
• COVID-19 Reality: Medical Groups Face Financial Meltdown While Their Communities Face Devastating Loss of Access to Health Care (April 16, 2020)
• House Approves COVID-19 Package
  Includes Billions for PPE and Funding to Help Healthcare Providers Continue Serving Patients (March 27, 2020)
• Senate Agreement on COVID-19 Legislative and Funding Package
  Includes Billions for PPE and Funding to Help Providers Continue Serving Patients (March 25, 2020)
• AMGA Urges Lawmakers to Consider Healthcare Providers in COVID-19 Relief Stimulus Package (March 19, 2020)
• AMGA Calls for CMS to Waive Telehealth Restrictions
  Commends Congress for Swift Action on Coronavirus (March 6, 2020)

Public Policy Alerts

Members Only

• Congress Approves $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package (March 10, 2021)
• Congress Concludes Business for the Year with COVID-19 Relief Package and Funding Packages (December 23, 2020)
• $20 Billion in Provider Relief Funding Available; Applicants Encouraged to Apply Early, Starting Oct. 5  (October 1, 2020)
• HHS Revises Phase 2 Provider Relief Fund Eligibility; August 28 Deadline to Apply (August 17, 2020)
• Congressional Action Needed After Medicare Proposes Limited Telehealth Expansion; CMS Moves Forward with E/M Plans (August 04, 2020)
• CMS Announces Pay Parity for Telephone Services; Increases Audio-Only Evaluation and Management Code RVUs Based on AMGA Recommendations (May 1, 2020)
• HHS Opens $20 Billion Provider Payment Portal; Application Process for Additional Relief Funds (April 26, 2020)
• HHS to Release Additional COVID-19 Emergency Funds (April 23, 2020)
• Senate Approves New Round of Coronavirus Aid; Includes $100B for Healthcare Providers and Testing (April 21, 2020)
• HHS Begins Release of $100 Billion in COVID-19 Funding for Providers (April 10, 2020)
• CMS to Provide $30 Billion to Providers this Week (April 7, 2020)
• CMS Revises Telehealth Requirements and Other Rules to Fight COVID-19 (March 31, 2020)
• CMS Details COVID-19 Advance Payment Mechanism (March 28, 2020)
• House Approves Senate Compromise on COVID-19 Relief (March 27, 2020)
• Senate Approves Emergency Coronavirus Spending (March 25, 2020)

Letters to Lawmakers

• AMGA letter to President Biden on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution (February 01, 2021)
• AMGA letter to Congressional Leadership on COVID-19 Legislation in Lame Duck Session (November 16, 2020)
• AMGA Letter on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements October 21, 2020
• AMGA Comments on 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (October 05, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to Congressional Leadership on Future COVID-19 Legislation (September 15, 2020)
• AMGA Comments on the Medicare Shared Savings Program Provisions in Interim Final Rule (July 07, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to Senate Leadership on Future COVID-19 Legislation (June 09, 2020)
• AMGA Comments on Telehealth and Medicare Shared Savings Program Interim Final Rule (June 01, 2020)
• Updated Comments on COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (May 27, 2020)
• AMGA Letters to House, Senate Sponsors Endorsing AAP Improvement Legislation (May 18, 2020)
• Coalition Letter to CMS Seeking Additional Relief for ACOs (May 14, 2020)
• Letter to HHS Requesting COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund Clarity (May 05, 2020)
• Letter to CMS Requesting a Reversal of its APP Suspension (April 28, 2020)
• Letter from AMGA-member coalition calling for support of audio-only telehealth services (April 25, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to Congress Requesting Emergency Funding for Providers (April 21, 2020)
• Coalition Letter to CMS Regarding Telephone E/M Codes  (April 8, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to Congress Regarding COVID-19 Releif (April 8, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Small Business Administration (April 02, 2020) regarding financial relief for members during the COVID-19 pandemic
• AMGA Letter to HHS on CARES Act Funding (March 30, 2020)
• AMGA Letter to Congress Regarding COVID-19 Relief (March 18, 2020)
• AMGA Further Encourages CMS to Expand Telehealth in Response to COVID-19 (March 16, 2020)
• AMGA Encourages CMS to Expand Telehealth in Response to COVID-19 (March 5, 2020)

Resources

• COVID-19 Grassroots Outreach Letters (added April 30, 2020)
• Template Letter on COVID-19 Relief to Customize and Send Your Members of Congress