What do oligopolies and "maxxxing" have in common? Health insurance executives testifying on Capitol Hill. In this episode of Filibusters and Fine Print, the AMGA Public Policy team dives deep into the explosive House hearings on healthcare affordability, breaking down what the heat on insurers really means for physicians, patients, and what's next for health policy on the Hill. Don't miss this timely analysis of the testimony everyone's talking about. Plus, Lauren returns.

This episode examines the administrative burden in American healthcare, where physicians spend an average of two full business days weekly on paperwork rather than patient care. Outdated regulations create unnecessary complexity, requiring extensive documentation for routine matters like approving basic medical equipment. In for Season 2, Episode 19, the AMGA policy team examines how this administrative waste costs billions annually while directly reducing time healthcare providers spend treating patients. The episode explores why the system has become so bureaucratic and its impact on both providers and patients.

Congress is facing another deadline of Jan. 30 to extend critical healthcare policies and programs. Join the AMGA public policy team for Season 2, Episode 17 of Filibusters and Fine Print as they add flavor to the critical healthcare extenders debate before Congress such as Medicare telehealth flexibilities, Hospital-at-Home, the GPCI floor, and Medicaid DSH cuts. This package is a little different as some of the extensions are for a few years which is longer than in past compromises, but AMGA keeps pushing for more permanent solutions. Time is ticking, Congress only has a few days before these policies face expiration and patients suffer. Additional details and all episodes are available on the AMGA website.

In our latest Filibusters & Fine Print episode, we break down CMS's Contract Year 2027 MA proposed rule—but the real story is the Request for Information asking fundamental questions about Medicare Advantage's future direction. With MA covering over half of Medicare beneficiaries, plans facing unexpected costs, providers caught between payment cuts and Congressional scrutiny through the "No Upcode Act," and a January 26, 2026 comment deadline approaching, this is a defining moment for the program. The AMGA team explains what CMS is asking about risk adjustment reform and Star Ratings overhaul, the gap between proposed burden reductions and what AMGA members actually need, and most importantly, what AMGA members should do before the comment deadline. Additional details and all episodes are available on the AMGA website.

Congress may have missed the memo that 2026 has arrived; they're still stuck in 2025 mode, and the clock is ticking toward a critical Jan. 30 deadline. Join the AMGA public policy team for the Season 2, Episode 15 of Filibusters and Fine Print as they break down the high-stakes healthcare extenders on the line: Medicare telehealth flexibilities, Hospital-at-Home, the GPCI floor, and Medicaid DSH cuts. What happens if Congress doesn't act? Spoiler alert: it's not good for patients, providers, or the healthcare system. Tune in for expert analysis, legislative tea, and a clear-eyed look at what's needed to stop the endless cycle of short-term patches and finally bring stability to healthcare policy. Additional details and all episodes are available on the AMGA website.

It's been a year of seismic shifts, hard-won victories, and unexpected chaos in healthcare policy. From the longest government shutdown in history to regulatory achievements, the AMGA Public Policy team has been in the trenches the whole way. In this special year-end episode of "Filibusters & Fine Print," the AMGA team counts down their top 10 accomplishments of 2025—and then debates live which achievement deserves the number one spot. Will it be protecting telehealth access during a government shutdown? Fixing Medicare's broken conversion factors? Or launching the MACRA Taskforce to reimagine physician payment for the future?

In episode #14 of Season 2 of "Filibusters & Fine Print," the AMGA team cuts through the seemingly disparate regulations of the Trump Administration and reveals four major policy themes shaping healthcare delivery: systematically shifting care to lower-cost settings, supporting Medicare Advantage as the future of Medicare, scaling mandatory alternative payment models that demonstrate measurable savings, and implementing transparency requirements that use private market rates to inform government payment. Rather than simply explaining what's changing, we explore the "why" behind these decisions—the financial logic, strategic priorities, and interconnected goals driving the administration's approach.

The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule dropped on Halloween, and while it's not quite a horror show this year, it's far from a treat. For the first time, CMS split the conversion factor—creating separate rates of $33.5675 for qualifying APM participants (3.77% increase) and $33.4009 for non-qualifying providers (3.26% increase)—with most of the boost coming from last-minute congressional intervention. The team discussed welcome telehealth flexibilities and new remote patient monitoring codes, but concerns about the mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model starting in 2027. The fundamental problem remains: Medicare payment rates have fallen 29% over two decades when adjusted for practice costs, and budget neutrality creates a zero-sum game among specialties. AMGA is advocating for systematic reform because the current pattern of annual crises and temporary patches is unsustainable and threatens Medicare beneficiary access to care.