Legislative Focus: Protect Medicaid

Medicaid enrollment has significantly increased over the last decade, from 1.1 million individuals in 2014 to over 1.6 million in 2024. This increase has resulted in greater access to quality health care for our most vulnerable populations. However, Medicaid payment cuts threaten the viability of the physician practices that provide this care.

Increasing cost drivers, including workforce shortages and administrative burdens, are putting physician practices at risk, rendering some practices unable to provide care for those reliant on Medicaid services. This must change.

Fewer Medicaid physicians mean less access to quality care for Maryland’s most disadvantaged residents. MedChi advocates for the state to revert to its policy of paying medical practices at 100% of Medicare for E&M payment rates, so physicians can continue to care for patients on Medicaid.

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, MedChi successfully advocated for the State to pay E&M payment rates at 100% of Medicare. However, in mid-FY2025 (October 1, 2024), the State reduced Medicaid funding for E&M payment rates from 100% of Medicare to 98% of Medicare. As we look ahead to the FY2026 Budget, we must protect Maryland’s investment in Medicaid and restore E&M payment rates to 100% of Medicare to ensure that primary care services are consistently accessible for Maryland’s most vulnerable patients.

MedChi will continue its advocacy through its Legislative Session, and all members are encouraged to attend. To learn more about MedChi's Legislative Focus, visit here.

Legislative kickoff will take place tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Acqua Al 2 Ristorante in historic downtown Annapolis. This annual event marks the start of the Maryland General Assembly session and provides a unique opportunity for physicians, members, medical society leaders, and policymakers to engage in meaningful dialogue about health policy and other key issues. It's not too late to attend this impactful gathering and we hope to see you there.

Click here for additional information.

Kind regards,

Gene Ransom III

MedChi CEO

AMA Advocacy: Updates on the AMA's Work in Our Nation's Capital, States and Courthouses

Medicare Physician Payment Reform

Congress allows Medicare cuts for physicians starting Jan. 1

With the gap between reimbursement rates and the cost of care continuing to widen, the AMA and other physician advocacy groups argue that these annual payment reductions jeopardize access to quality care for Medicare beneficiaries and threaten the financial stability of medical practices across the nation.

Read more.

AMA commends MedPAC for recognizing inadequate Medicare physician pay

In a comment letter following the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC’s) December meeting, the AMA commended the commission for acknowledging the unsustainable trajectory of the current Medicare physician payment system and stressing for the third straight year that physician payment rate updates should be based on an inflation-based index for Medicare.Read more.

Medicare payment in the news

As physicians continue to push for Medicare payment reform, the media is taking notice. Recent headlines include:

• “Congress ditched fix to Medicare doc pay cut in skinny budget bill” - MedPage Today
• “Physician groups to Congress: You failed” - Medical Economics
• “Doctors dismayed by payment cuts in federal spending plan: ‘Huge congressional failure’” - Chief Healthcare Executive
• “Congress adjourns without easing Medicare doc pay cut” - Medscape
• “Spending bill leaves 2.83% physician pay cut in place” - Becker’s ASC Review

National Update

AMA applauds Surgeon General Advisory on alcohol, cancer-causing risk

“[This] advisory, coupled with a push to update the Surgeon General’s health warning label on alcoholic beverages, will bolster awareness, improve health, and save lives,” says a statement from AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD. Read more.

OCR issues new proposed regulation with updates to the HIPAA Security Rule

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is endeavoring to further strengthen cybersecurity protections for electronic protected health information by covered entities (most health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses) and their business associates. Read more.

FDA proposes changes to buprenorphine labeling: higher doses may be helpful

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label for many buprenorphine products to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) suggests that doses above 24mg daily have not been shown to be effective. These labels, however, are old and not reflective of the current use of illicitly manufactured fentanyl—or that physicians treating OUD patients are reporting benefits of doses above 24mg for some patients. Read more.

15 states selected for new maternal health model

The Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) model began in 15 states on Jan. 1, 2025: Alabama, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Read more.

No Surprises Act fees remain unchanged in 2025

On Dec. 27, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the No Surprises Act webpage to reflect the updated certified independent dispute resolution (IDR) entity fees for 2025, which will remain unchanged from 2024 at $200-$840 for single determinations and $268-$1,173 for batched determinations plus an administrative fee of $115 per party per dispute.

Read more.

Jan. 22 webinar: Jumpstart your advocacy in 2025

This AMA educational session on Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Central time will explore the fluid Congressional landscape, the effect it will have on health care policy in the new Congress, and how you can be an effective advocate in 2025 and beyond.

Read more.

Jan. 29 webinar: AMA advocacy priorities with a new administration and Congress

With a new administration and new Congress taking the reins at the start of this new year, how is AMA advocacy positioned to effect change on the key issues facing patients and physicians? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead, and how can physicians get involved?

Read more.

Judicial Update

“Unlawful cartel” is price-fixing the rates insurers pay physicians

Aiming to stop unlawful price-fixing that results in unfair payment rates physicians get from health insurers when they provide out-of-network care to the insurers’ members, the AMA and the Illinois State Medical Society sued MultiPlan Inc. in federal court in late October. Read more.

Other News

Nominations due Jan. 31: AMPAC Award for Political Participation

Awarded every two years by the AMPAC Board of Directors, the AMPAC Award for Political Participation recognizes an AMA or AMA Alliance member who has made significant personal contributions of time and talent in assisting friends of medicine in their quest for elective office at the federal or state level.

Read more.

Upcoming Advocacy Events

Webinar: Jumpstart your advocacy in 2025

Jan. 22: This AMA educational session on Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Central time will explore the fluid Congressional landscape, the effect it will have on health care policy in the new Congress, and how you can be an effective advocate in 2025 and beyond.

Webinar: AMA advocacy priorities with a new administration and Congress

Jan. 29: With a new administration and new Congress taking the reins at the start of this new year, how is AMA advocacy positioned to effect change on the key issues facing patients and physicians? What opportunities and challenges lie ahead, and how can physicians get involved? Join AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD, for a webinar on Jan. 29 at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT to hear the latest, and get a sneak preview of the upcoming AMA National Advocacy Conference in February.

Registration open: 2025 AMA National Advocacy Conference

Feb. 10-12: The AMA National Advocacy Conference brings the power of organized medicine to our nation’s capital. Don’t miss your chance to connect with industry experts, members of Congress and the administration, and others about federal efforts to improve health care – and advocate on crucial health care issues affecting physicians and patients. The 2025 conference will take place on Feb. 10-12 at the Grand Hyatt Washington. Registration is now open.

Other Upcoming Events

Submit your interest: AMA Community of Practice on routine screening

Jan. 10: The AMA, with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is seeking Community Health Center and Emergency Department physicians to join a 6-month Community of Practice focused on strengthening routine screening for HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis and LTBI. Selected sites will be announced by February 2025. Email SMPH@ama-assn.org with questions. Submit your interest by Jan. 10, 2025.

Call for abstracts: 2025 American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH)

Feb. 14: Interested in presenting at ACPH 2025? “Inspire, innovate, implement: Systemic solutions for physician well-being” is the conference theme. Submit your abstract today and be part of the change! Submissions are due by Feb. 14.

Learning collaborative: Augmented intelligence (AI) governance

April-Nov: Embark on a seven-month shared learning journey in a peer-supportive environment! Subject matter experts walk participants through best practices and considerations for adopting an AI governance framework that is ethical, equitable and responsible. Limited spots available.