On April 15, ASAM, the AMA, and 136 other organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders thanking them for their efforts to help physicians, other health care clinicians, and hospitals on the frontlines of care meet the demands of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations also took the opportunity to urge Congress to take additional steps to protect patient access to care by preserving the viability of physician practices as part of the nation’s essential health care system.

The letter draws attention to the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program, thanking Congress for expanding it for the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency, but noting that certain elements of the program have room for significant improvement. Specifically, the program should postpone recoupment until 365 days after the advance payment is issued, reduce the per-claim recoupment amount from 100% to 25%, and extend the repayment period for physicians to at least two years, among other improvements.

Next, the organizations urged Congress to leverage Medicare and Medicaid to provide financial assistance to physicians caring for patients during the pandemic. Congress could increase Medicaid and TRICARE payment rates to assure parity with Medicare fee-for-service payments for the duration of the public health emergency, waive budget neutrality for the Medicare payment changes for evaluation and management (E/M) services that will be implemented on January 1, 2021, and extend sequestration relief through December 31, 2021 to continue providing financial relief as physician practices resume normal operations. The letter also notes the plight of small practices, and asks Congress to authorize direct financial support, grants, and interest-free loans and other mechanisms, such as a 9/11-type COVID fund, for physician practices of all sizes to ensure that they can remain afloat.

The letter continues by making additional requests regarding the newly authorized and expanded small business loans under the Small Business Administration, telehealth, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), support for resident physicians and students, and broad liability protections. It concludes by once again thanking Congress for the actions it has already taken to support physicians other health care clinicians, and hospitals.

Read the letter here.