Association News

Educate

AC20 Sessions Now Available On-Demand

Featuring over 20 breakout presentations [+]

Together 2 Goal Shares Breakout Session on Innovator Track Cardiovascular Disease Cohort

Panel discussion features leaders from Geisinger, Sharp-Rees Stealy, and Southwest Medical Associates [+]

Visit AMGA’s COVID-19 Resources Webpage

Has become the number one result for medical groups seeking information across multiple search engines [+]

Obesity Care Model Collaborative Case Studies Now Available

Additional resources coming soon [+]

Networking and Educational Opportunities

Latest upcoming meetings and events [+]

Advocate

AMGA Condemns Racism and Commits to Fighting This Public Health Crisis

AMGA Foundation’s Vision 2025 Seeks to Reduce Disparities [+]

AMGA condemns racism, bigotry, discrimination, and violence of any kind, and we are deeply concerned about discriminatory practices that are resulting in unwarranted deaths and marginalization of the Black community.

As a healthcare organization, we consider racism a public health crisis. Systemic racism is a disease that has infected the American body for over 400 years and persists in causing illness and death. We can no longer just treat the symptoms when they arise. We must address the underlying issues.

As data from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have shown, communities of color have been disproportionately affected, both in infection rates and in economic impact. Disparities in access to healthcare services, medical treatment, and treatment outcomes related to race have been widely documented. In addition, discriminatory acts, targeted violence, and economic practices have created an environment with overwhelming health and safety hazards for people of color and other socially marginalized groups.

AMGA’s vision is a transformed healthcare system that results in better health for everyone. To achieve this, we must address racial, cultural, and social inequities that are continuously impacting medical care. AMGA and our members – 440 medical groups and integrated health systems across the country – have been working to address social determinants of health through AMGA Foundation’s Vision 2025, with a goal of 100 million healthier Americans by 2025. That vision includes a plan for our members to provide better access to quality, affordable care regardless of race, income, background, and ZIP code.

As individuals, as healthcare providers, and as a nation, we need to do more to address racial and social inequity. AMGA members play a critical role in the health and wellbeing of their communities. They see firsthand the impact of social determinants, disparities, and environmental factors on the health of the patients they serve. AMGA stands with our members and their patients to actively address inequalities so the color of a person’s skin or their socioeconomic status does not determine health outcomes or impede opportunities for a healthy and thriving life.

AMGA Endorses Medicare Telehealth Expansion

New Flexibilities Needed Beyond COVID Emergency [+]

AMGA Endorses Provider Loan Program Reform Effort

Accelerated and Advance Payments Provide Crucial Financial Support [+]

AMGA recently endorsed H.R. 6837 and S. 3750, the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act, legislation that would restart and reform a Medicare loan program that offers financial support to healthcare providers that are facing critical revenue shortfalls because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

AMGA members have cancelled elective procedures and encouraged their patients to stay at home, which has significantly reduced their revenues and threatened their ability to remain in business. To support their operations, many AMGA members turned to the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program, which offers loans to providers based on their revenue history. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services abruptly closed the program to new entrants April 26, cutting off access to a needed source of funds. AMGA is pleased that Congress has recognized the need to continue and improve the program with the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act.

“AMGA members are fighting COVID-19 on two fronts,” said AMGA President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A. “Defeating and containing the disease is one battle, and fighting off the dire financial impact of it is another. The legislation AMGA is endorsing today not only will help our members continue to care for their patients during this national crisis, but also will help ensure they can serve their communities into the future.”

The legislation restarts the program and modifies several key features. For example, providers would have a longer period to repay the loans at a lower interest rate. In addition, loans could be forgiven in cases of extreme hardship.

“AMGA members will not stop fighting this virus and caring for their patients,” Penso said. “We can’t reopen, because we never close. Programs like the APP have helped make that possible, and we urge Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”

AMGA's endorsement letter to Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), the House leader on these bills, is available here, and our letter to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Senate leader, is available here

Empower

Combating COVID-19 and Chronic Conditions with AMGA Foundation

Show Your Support Today [+]

Tell Your Story in Group Practice Journal

Make your mark as a vital healthcare thought leader [+]

Member News

Business Briefs

News from AMGA member organizations [+]

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner AbbVie has announced it has completed its acquisition of Allergan plc, significantly expanding and diversifying AbbVie’s existing leadership positions in immunology, hematologic oncology, neuroscience, and others. AbbVie has also announced a strategic collaboration with Jacobio Pharmaceuticals, to develop and commercialize SHP2 inhibitors, which target a key node in cancer and immune cells.

AdventHealth has announced the structural completion of its new six-story, 300,000 square foot patient and surgical facility, the Taneja Center for Innovative Surgery.
AMGA Executive Corporate Partner Boehringer Ingelheim has announced it has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with CDR-Life to research and develop antibody fragment-based therapeutics for geographic atrophy, a progressive, irreversible retinal disease that occurs in patients with age-related macular degeneration for which there is no current treatment. Boehringer has also announced the acquisition of Northern Biologics Inc., which focuses on therapeutic antibodies targeting the tumor microenvironment. Finally Boehringer has announced an academic research collaboration alongside AMGA Premier Corporate Partner Lilly USA, LLC with the Duke Clinical Research Institute on a trial examining empagliflozin’s effects following an acute myocardial infarction.

AMGA Premier Corporate Partner Experian Health has announced that in an effort to aid in the country’s re-opening efforts, it is making available a free interactive heat map of geographic populations at-risk of being most susceptible to developing severe cases of COVID-19. The Experian COVID-19 Outlook and Response Evaluator (CORE) tool is intended to guide healthcare organizations and government agencies as they plan for the “new normal” and coronavirus recovery in the months ahead. The map leverages de-identified data such as pre-existing conditions and social determinants of health to form a comprehensive picture that predicts possible pandemic impact on communities.

The John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC), at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, and Genomic Testing Cooperative, Irvine, CA, have announced an agreement to establish a state-of-the-art, next generation sequencing (NGS) laboratory for molecular profiling. This NGS laboratory, located at John Theurer Cancer Center, will serve all physicians within Regional Cancer Care Associates, a network of cancer care professionals in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland.

Houston Methodist in March became the first academic medical center in the nation to transfuse plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients into two critically ill patients. With no adverse side effects caused by the plasma transfusion, the study concluded that convalescent plasma is a safe treatment option for patients with severe COVID-19 disease. To date, this is the largest cohort worldwide assessed for outcomes pertaining to convalescent plasma transfusion for COVID-19.
AMGA Executive Corporate Partner Humana Inc. has announced a collaboration with Healthmap Solutions, Inc., a specialty population health management company with kidney health expertise, to provide care coordination services for Humana Medicare Advantage and Commercial members in Florida who have kidney disease. The agreement, now in effect, is designed to improve the health of individuals with chronic kidney disease and better their quality of life by detecting the condition earlier; slowing disease progression; and informing the patient about care options, which may include home dialysis.

AMGA Premier Corporate Partner Lilly USA, LLC has announced it has entered into an agreement with Junshi Biosciences to co-develop therapeutic antibodies for the potential prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

AMGA Chairman’s Circle Member Merck and its Foundation have announced the company will make an additional commitment of $10 million in support of COVID-19 relief efforts to help address health disparities and inequality and among patients and communities. Merck has also announced that Infectious Disease Connect Inc., a UPMC-backed company offering telemedicine-enabled solutions to hospitals for treatment of infectious diseases, has combined with Merck’s ILÚM Health Solutions, a provider of technology and services to support infectious disease management, clinical decision-support and precision antibiotic therapy. Additionally Merck has announced three significant scientific initiatives to combat COVID-19: two agreements to develop potential vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, and a research collaboration to advance the development of a novel antiviral candidate:

Merck will acquire Themis Bioscience, a company focused on vaccines and immune-modulation therapies for infectious diseases, including COVID-19;
IAVI and Merck will collaborate to develop vaccine against COVID-19;
Merck and Ridgeback Bio will collaborate to advance development of an oral antiviral candidate for COVID-19, EIDD-2801.

Finally, Merck has announced that it will acquire Themis, a company focused on vaccines and immune-modulation therapies for infectious diseases and cancer.
Ochsner Medical Center has announced it will be one of three New Orleans hospitals participating in a national study focused on the impact COVID-19 is having on healthcare workers. Ochsner Medical Center, Tulane Health System, and University Medical Center will all encourage local healthcare workers to join the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response & Outcomes (HERO) Registry, which is gathering personal accounts of clinical and life experiences from healthcare workers across the country with the goal of understanding the perspectives and problems faced by those on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines.

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner Premier Inc. has announced a new program to invest in domestic and geographically diverse manufacturers to ensure a robust and resilient supply chain for essential medical products. The program is intended to provide a means for Premier and its members to invest in innovative business models, including partnering with quality manufacturers that can supply shortage products, co-funding the development of affordable products that address specific market needs and creating strategic sourcing contracts to ensure a continuous supply. Initial areas of investment will include domestic suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as geographically diverse suppliers of medical commodities currently in shortage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this new strategy, Premier also announced that it acquired a minority stake in Prestige Ameritech, the largest domestic manufacturer of face masks, including N95 respirators and surgical masks. Under the agreement, Premier members commit to purchase a portion of all face masks they use annually from Prestige Ameritech for up to six years, inclusive of a three-year renewal option.

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner SheppardMullin has announced it has joined “L.A. Represents,” a pro bono a coalition of law firms, bar associations, and attorneys that will enhance their existing pro bono commitments to legal aid organizations to provide COVID-19-related legal services, including helping vulnerable tenants, domestic violence victims, and low income individuals with employment, consumer debt, and bankruptcy matters. As part of L.A. Represents, Sheppard Mullin will partner with Bet Tzedek Legal Services and other law firms to build a new support system for small businesses devastated by COVID-19.

AMGA Premier Corporate Partner UnitedHealthcare has announced it is taking additional action to directly support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing over $1.5 billion of additional support for its customers. These measures build upon the company’s ongoing efforts to address COVID-19 challenges by expanding coverage, supporting the healthcare system, protecting the healthcare work force and assisting those most affected by the pandemic.

Awards and Honors

Recognition for AMGA member organizations [+]

AMGA Premier Corporate Partner Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. has announced it has been recognized as the top-rated electronic health record vendor for ambulatory practices and inpatient hospitals according to new survey results from Black Book Research. The annual client satisfaction survey features responses collected from more than 2,000 individual users of electronic health record platforms in the U.S. and are collected from all areas of the organization including IT, administrative staff, and end-user clinicians. First place awards included:

Hospitals 101-250 beds for the fourth consecutive year
Rehabilitation hospitals for the second consecutive year
Integrated Practice management for hospital systems and IDNs
Integrated Ambulatory EHR/Practice Management
Ambulatory Practices 26-99 providers for the seventh consecutive year

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner Humana Inc. has announced that it recently rose on the DiversityInc list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity, jumping 17 spots in making the list for the third year in a row. The list honors leadership in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ and veterans. Humana rose to No. 25 on the list, up from No. 42 last year, the biggest leap of all companies. Humana has also announced its Humana Specialty Pharmacy has received the Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Award in the PBM/Payer category for the third year in a row. The award, presented by Zitter Health Insights, a division of MMIT, recognizes the highest quality in customer service and optimal patient care by a specialty pharmacy. Humana additionally announced that it is ranked #1 in Florida and Texas in the 2020 J.D. Power ranking of Commercial member health plans. The award focuses on the member experience with the health plan, and does not delineate between small and large employers.

Loma Linda University Medical Center has earned Magnet Recognition as part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program.

Ochsner Health has announced that eleven of its facilities, including five partner facilities, have earned an ‘A’ Spring 2020 Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a designation that recognizes efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States.

WellSpan Health has achieved a preeminent national award in patient safety and quality, making it the first Pennsylvania health system to achieve the prestigious honor in 15 years. The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum announced that WellSpan won a 2019 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award – one of the highest safety awards in healthcare – for its Central Alert Team, an innovative program that works to quickly detect and treat sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.

Movers and Shakers

New appointments at AMGA member organizations [+]

CareMount Medical has announced the appointment of Lewis Kohl, DO, MBA, as chief safety officer. In his new role, Kohl will be responsible for managing clinical quality by creating and overseeing the implementation of safety measures throughout the organization. Kohl has worked for CareMount Medical since 2011, serving as its chief medical information officer and senior medical director, and prior to that, as associate medical director.

Cleveland Clinic has named Leslie Jurecko, MD, MBA, as chief safety and quality officer.

Geisinger Health System has named Steven Bender as chief legal officer, effective July 1, 2020. Bender currently serves as general counsel for George Washington
University Medical Faculty Associates.

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner The Joint Commission has announced the appointment of Gary Bachrach as the its new executive director of business development for its home care accreditation program. Bachrach will be responsible for driving product strategy and development for the home care accreditation program to meet the needs of current and prospective customers. He also will oversee integrated business development and marketing strategies for the accreditation program.

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner Hall, Render, Killian, Heath, & Lyman, PC has announced that Josh Meyers has joined the firm in its Dallas office. Meyers focuses his practice on a variety of health law matters, assisting clients in navigating physician licensure challenges and general business transactions. In addition, he works in the area of fraud and abuse, including Stark Law, and clinical research.

AMGA Chairman’s Circle Member Merck has announced the appointment of Matthew Walsh and Rachel Stahler as chief financial officer and chief information officer, respectively, for Organon & Co., its intended spinoff of its women’s health, legacy brands and biosimilars businesses. Walsh will be responsible for the development and execution of the company’s overall financial strategy, and will oversee corporate financial planning, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations and business development. Meanwhile, Stahler will be responsible for all information technology strategy, infrastructure, operations, and delivery for Organon and will drive digital capabilities in support of the company’s innovation strategy.

MercyOne Northeast Iowa has welcomed Danilo Dalan, MD, to Waterloo and Cedar Falls Allergy Care.

Watson Clinic has announced several new additions to its organization: Ajay K. Verma, MD, a board-certified radiologist; Nichole Murphy, APRN, a registered nurse practitioner; registered nurse practitioner Amber Peterson, APRN, a pulmonology specialist; Yeneneh Desta, MD, joins the Infectious Diseases department; and Melissa Kham, APRN, is a registered nurse practitioner who works alongside board-certified gynecologic oncologist Dr. Richard Cardosi.

AMGA Executive Corporate Partner WittKieffer has announced James King as the leader of its Board Services Practice. In addition to his new role, King is a senior partner and also serves as the firm’s chief quality officer, a board member, and member of its diversity council.

New and Returning Members

Welcome new and renewing AMGA member organizations and Leadership Council members [+]

Renewals

AMGA would like to thank the following groups who have renewed their membership this month and for continuing to help us make multispecialty medical groups and other organized systems of care the preferred delivery system for coordinated, patient-centered, efficient, quality medical care in America.

Groups of 3-50 FTE Physicians

Centennial Medical Group – Roseburg, Oregon
Dignity Health Medical Group - Nevada – Henderson, Nevada
Memorial Health System of East Texas – Lufkin, Texas
Mercy Radiology Group – Rancho Cordova, California
Northwest Primary Care Group – Portland, Oregon
Salem Clinic, P.C. – Salem, Oregon
St. Anthony Hospital Physician Group – Pendleton, Oregon

Groups of 51-150 FTE Physicians

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center – Houston, Texas
CORE Physicians, LLC – Exeter, New Hampshire
Dignity Health Medical Group - Arizona) – Phoenix, Arizona
Fargo Division Physician Enterprise – Fargo, North Dakota
Lexington Clinic, P.S.C. – Lexington, Kentucky
Mercy Clinics – Rancho Cordova, California
Memorial Health Partners Foundation – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Olmsted Medical Center – Rochester, Minnesota
Pacific Central Coast Health Centers – Santa Maria, California
The Portland Clinic – Portland, Oregon
St. Alexius Employed Physicians – Fargo, North Dakota
St. Joseph’s Physician Associates – Bryan, Texas
Woodland Clinic Medical Group – Woodland, California

Groups of 151-500 FTE Physicians

Alegent Creighton Clinic – Omaha, Nebraska
Centura Health Physician Group – Centennial, Colorado
Foundation Physicians Medical Group – Rancho Cordova, California
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Houston, Texas
MemorialCare Medical Group – Fountain Valley, California
Norton Medical Group – Louisville, Kentucky
Phoebe Physician Group, Inc. – Albany, Georgia
Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group – San Diego, California
Summa Health Medical Group – Akron, Ohio
St. Vincent Medical Group – Little Rock, Arkansas
The Physician Network – Lincoln, Nebraska
TriHealth Physician Enterprise Corporation – Cincinnati, Ohio
Watson Clinic LLP – Lakeland, Florida

Groups of 501-1,000 FTE Physicians

Greater Newport Physicians – Fountain Valley, California
Franciscan Medical Group – Littleton, Colorado
Loma Linda University Health Care – Loma Linda, California
Sharp Community Medical Group – San Diego, California
University of Washington Physicians – Seattle, Washington

Groups of 1501-2,000 FTE Physicians

Johns Hopkins University, Clinical Practice Association – Baltimore, Maryland

Premier Corporate Partners

Experian Health – Franklin, Tennessee
Lilly USA, LLC – Indianapolis, Indiana

* Denotes IPA conversion
For more information on AMGA Membership, please contact Bill Baron at 703.838.0033 ext. 336 or wbaron@amga.org.

New Council Members

CAO/COO Council

Beth Careyva - Vice Chair, Clinical Operations and Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Physician Group; Allentown, Pennsylvania

CEO Council

James Bochsler - President, Board of Directors, PeaceHealth Medical Group; Portland, Oregon
Shawn Crawford - CEO CVFP Medical Group, Central Virginia Family Physicians; Forest, Virginia
William Downey - President/CEO, Riverside Medical Group; Newport News, Virginia
Phil Hunsberger – President, Alliance Health Professionals, PLLC; Clinton Township, Michigan
Julie Lepzinski - President & CEO, McLaren Medical Group; Grand Blanc, Michigan
Vincent Mathews - Interim CEO, MCP & President of Froedtert & MCWP, Medical College of Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
David May – President, Shore Physicians Group; Somers Point, New Jersey
Samuel Santoro - President/CEO, East Bay Physicians Medical Group, Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation; Lafayette, California
Mitchell Schwartz - President, Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise; Annapolis, Maryland
Shawn Slack – President, The Everett Clinic; Everett, Washington
Anthony Slonim - President and CEO, Renown Health; Reno, Nevada
Lynn Stofer - President, Partners Community Physicians Organization, Inc.; Somerville, Massachusetts
Chris Thorn - Chief Executive Officer, Graves Gilbert Clinic; Bowling Green, Kentucky
Hugh Thornhill – President, OhioHealth Physician Group; Columbus, Ohio
Srinidhi Vishwanath – CEO, Oncology Physicians Network; Glendale, California

CFO Council

Deborah Bauer - Chief Financial Officer, Buffalo Medical Group, P.C.; Williamsville, New York
Kenny Caldwell - Chief Financial Officer, Heritage Medical Associates, P.C.; Nashville, Tennessee
Wing Chan - Associate Vice President, Professional Services, Samaritan Health Physicians; Albany, Oregon
Dave Gordon - VP and CFO, Mercy Clinics/Ambulatory Care; Chesterfield, Missouri
Melissa Keller – Controller, Gonzaba Medical Group; San Antonio, Texas
Brooke Moore - Chief Financial Officer, Emory Clinic; Atlanta, Georgia
Douglas Okland - VP, Clinic Finance, Sanford Health; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Mike Peek - Director of Finance, Matthews-Vu Medical Group; Colorado Springs, Colorado
Brad Reach - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Springfield Clinic; Springfield, Illinois
Melissa Reaves - CFO, Stern Cardiovascular, Baptist Medical Group; Memphis, Tennessee
Scott Reinard - Chief Financial Officer, Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians, Inc.; Westerville, Ohio
Elizabeth Sublette - Chief Financial Officer, The Portland Clinic; Portland, Oregon
Derek Wildman - CFO/COO, UNC Health Care System; Chapel Hill, North Carolina

CHRO

Laurie Muggy - HR Director, Oregon Medical Group, P.C.; Eugene, Oregon

CMO Council

Marc Dean - Assistant Medical Director-Clinical Informatics, Harbin Clinic, LLC; Rome, Georgia
Jason Gray - Chief Medical Officer, Centennial Medical Group; Roseburg, Oregon
Paul Krakovitz - VP & CMO, Specialty-Based Care, Intermountain Medical Group; Murray, Utah
Jason Lake - Chief Medical Officer, Confluence Health; Wenatchee, Washington
Anthony Lam - CMO, Oncology Physicians Network; Glendale, California
Thomas Miller - Chief Medical Officer, University of Utah Community Clinics; Salt Lake City, Utah
Izabela Nowosielski - Chief Medical Officer, Greater Hudson Valley Health System Medical Group; Middletown, New York
Kevin Omilusik - Chief Medical Officer, Munson Healthcare; Traverse City, Michigan
Suzanne Pertsch - Chief Medical Officer, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Los Altos, California
Gregory Spencer - Chief Medical Officer, Crystal Run Healthcare; Middletown, New York

Emerging Leaders Council

Beth Careyva - Vice Chair, Clinical Operations and Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Physician Group; Allentown, Pennsylvania

Government Relations Council

Jessica Miller - Associate General Counsel, Atrius Health; Newton, Massachusetts

Women in Leadership Council

Beth Careyva - Vice Chair, Clinical Operations and Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Physician Group; Allentown, Pennsylvania

For more information on AMGA Leadership Councils, visit www.amga.org or contact Joe DeLisle, 703.838.0033 ext. 355.

Inside AMGA | June, 2020