Midsouth MGMA works closely with both the TMGMA, MGMA and TMA Government Affairs staff to provide our members with the latest legislative & regulatory information. Members are encouraged to participate in grassroots activities, anecdotal surveys, and contacting your elected officials on issues of importance to medical practices. For more information on how you can get involved or questions on any legislative issue, please visit http://www.tmgma.com/Legislative
JULY 31, 2019
Tennessee MGMA Members,
Congress introduced important legislation to address prior authorization challenges faced by medical group practices and their patients. MGMA worked closely with Congress to draft the bipartisan “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019” (H.R. 3107). This bill will increase transparency and streamline the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans by:
• Requiring MA plans to support electronic prior authorization;
• Requiring MA plans to make real-time prior authorization decisions;
• Exempting peroperative services from prior authorizations; and
• Requiring MA plans to publicly reveal what services require a prior authorization, how many are approved, and how long on average they take to approve.
This bill currently has 30 co-sponsors, however, no sponsors from Tennessee. Please send a letter to your Congressional representatives today urging them to cosponsor it!
Link to send letter: https://www.mgma.com/advocacy/make-change-happen/contact-congress#/44
Link to find your representatives: https://www.mgma.com/advocacy/make-change-happen/contact-congress#/legislators
Help spread the word and show your support on social media (Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn) by using the hashtag #MGMAAdvocacy!
Sharon Cannon, FACMPE
TMGMA Legislative Liaison
At an AMA convened meeting with CMS officials earlier this year, the medical specialty societies offered to provide feedback to Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) on possible RAC review topics prior to the approved work being posted on the RACs website. CMS recently informed the AMA that it is moving forward with this process. The deadline for the first review is December 8th. Given the AMA’s Interim Meeting and the Thanksgiving holiday, the AMA raised concern about the short deadline. As a result, CMS said that it will continue to take comments on the topics until later December. The topics can be found here.
