Atrius Health Representatives Meet with Congressional Leaders

Atrius Health was well represented at the recent “Capitol Hill Days” annual event hosted by the American Medical Group Association (AMGA). A record number of physician groups from throughout the country gathered in Washington, DC recently to meet with their respective Congressional leaders and staff on issues of importance to physician groups.

Joining Dr. Guy Spinelli, Atrius Health Board Chair and practicing internist at Granite Medical in Quincy, was Kathy Keough, Director of Government Relations for Atrius Health, who works closely with AMGA staff on federal issues of concern to physician practices.

It was a busy day, as Dr. Spinelli and Ms. Keough met with Congresswoman Katherine Clark, key health policy staff for newly elected Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Congressman Seth Moulton, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Edward Markey. In addition to participating in meetings with the congressional delegation, Ms. Keough attended the Government Relations Leadership Council where she recently completed a two-year term as chair of the group.

“AMGA’s annual Capitol Hill Day event was a terrific opportunity to educate members of Congress as well as their staff about the important work that Atrius Health is doing to improve the lives and health of our patients each day,” said Dr. Spinelli. “It is so important to meet with Congressional leaders and be able to discuss the role that Atrius Health plays as a leading provider of primary care, home care and hospice to a large number of patients in Massachusetts.”

Among the issues discussed with staff members during these one-on-one meetings were:

• Asking members of Congress to assist in reducing regulatory burdens (such as face-to-face documentation requirements and pending legislation to allow nurse practitioners to sign the plan of care for home health patients) for physician groups and home health/hospice agencies such as VNA Care;
• Ensuring that Congress preserve funding and mitigate future cuts to Medicare Advantage;
• Sharing Atrius Health’s efforts to address the opioid crisis and our successes as an Accountable Care Organization;
• Asking members of Congress to preserve the ability of multi-specialty medical groups to provide advanced diagnostic imaging services;
• Urging Congress to strengthen graduate medical education as a critical component to ensure access to primary care.

“It is vital that members of Congress, as well as their staff, hear from their constituents like Atrius Health as an integral part of the health care team. It is especially important that Dr. Spinelli was able to participate in these meetings as it demonstrates the commitment to some of the issues that were discussed during our meetings. It also ensures that we serve as a resource to elected officials and their staff as they weigh various bills before them,” Ms. Keough stated.

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