Ep. 49: Washington update with Anders Gilberg of MGMA

Anders Gilberg, senior vice president for government affairs with Medical Group Management Association, (MGMA) joins the podcast during inauguration week to discuss the second Trump administration and MGMA's policy wishlist.

MGMA's advocacy agenda

Check out our previous episodes about top risks to practices, weight loss drugs, social media health information and vaccine hesitancy.

Music Credits:
Cup of Coffee by Ionics - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

Introduction and overview (00:00:00)
Discussion begins with a mention of Elon Musk's impact on a significant healthcare bill.

Welcome and context (00:00:17)
Keith introduces Anders Gilberg and sets the context of the conversation regarding the second Trump administration.

Current state of health care (00:01:25)
Anders discusses the unfinished business from the previous Congress and the lack of political leadership in key agencies.

Key personalities in HHS (00:02:54)
Exploration of potential new leaders in HHS and their implications for healthcare legislation.

Challenges from previous Congress (00:04:38)
Discussion on the lingering effects of changes made to evaluation and management codes affecting physician payments.

Legislative uncertainty (00:08:08)
Anders reflects on the unexpected changes to a crucial healthcare bill and its impact on physician payments.

Regrouping and future strategies (00:09:58)
Anders outlines the need for re-education and regrouping following the shifts in Congress and political landscape.

Advocacy agenda overview (00:15:12)
Anders shares key priorities for the GMA, focusing on physician payment reform and reducing regulatory burdens.

Prior authorization issues (00:16:37)
Discussion on the burdens of prior authorization and efforts to improve transparency in insurance practices.

Quality reporting concerns (00:18:05)
Anders critiques the MIPS program and the need for a more efficient way to report quality measures.

Cybersecurity in health care (00:19:20)
Highlighting the importance of addressing cybersecurity threats and the implications for healthcare operations.

Conclusion and future check-ins (00:20:35)
Anders expresses willingness to return for future discussions as the political landscape evolves.