March 11, 2024
Change Healthcare Cyberattack
We are actively monitoring the Change Healthcare hack. Regular updates, including emerging financial support options, are being posted here.
Congressional Update
Last week, President Biden signed into law the first package of Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. The package includes increasing Medicare physician payment by 2.93 percent from March 8-December 31, 2024, and extending the alternative payment model (APM) bonus for one year at 1.88 percent. Congress will now focus on the second set of appropriations bills, which includes funding for HHS. It must pass this package by March 22 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are also beginning to hold discussions about the need to advance longer-term solutions to physician payments and driving the transition to value. We are encouraged by these discussions about reforming the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). We will update you as we learn more.
Webinar on Independent Practice Success in CMMI Models
The Partnership to Empower Physician-led Care (PEPC) is holding a webinar on Wednesday, March 27, from 2 to 3 pm ET to highlight the independent physician experience in CMS Innovation Center Models. Aledade leaders and member physicians will join leaders from CMS and AAFP to discuss how independent practices are succeeding in alternative payment models, remaining barriers and opportunities, and how CMS is supporting small and independent practices moving into APMs. Register here.
State Policy Corner
State legislative sessions are in full swing in a number of states. In Colorado, Aledade’s State Policy team is partnering with stakeholders on major legislative efforts impacting primary care. Aledade is a member of Colorado’s Health Can’t Wait Coalition, which is leading an effort on prior authorization reform moving through the legislature. Also in Colorado, our State Policy team testified (2:37) on a first-in-the-nation effort to strengthen contract negotiating power for independent primary care.
