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06/25/2025
Board Chair’s Corner
Dear Az/Nm MGMA Members and Valued Colleagues,
As your Board Chair, I'm honored to connect with you and reflect on the incredible value our Az/Nm MGMA community brings to healthcare leaders across Arizona and New Mexico. In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, staying informed, connected, and empowered is more critical than ever. That's precisely what your Az/Nm MGMA membership delivers.
I often hear from members how invaluable the connections made through our organization are. Whether it's sharing best practices with a peer grappling with similar challenges, finding a solution to a complex problem through our network, or simply knowing you're part of a supportive community, the power of our collective expertise is truly remarkable.
Beyond the camaraderie, your membership provides tangible benefits designed to propel your professional growth and optimize your practice's success. Here are just a few ways you can maximize your Az/Nm MGMA membership:
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Unparalleled Educational Opportunities: From our highly anticipated annual conference to timely webinars and workshops, we offer a diverse range of educational content tailored to the unique needs of medical group managers. Stay ahead of regulatory changes, learn innovative strategies, and gain insights from industry experts.
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Networking & Collaboration: Connect with a robust network of peers, share experiences, and build relationships that can last a lifetime. Our events, both in-person and virtual, provide ample opportunities to engage with fellow professionals who understand the complexities of your role.
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Advocacy for Your Profession: Az/Nm MGMA actively advocates on behalf of medical group practices, ensuring your voice is heard on critical legislative and policy matters that impact healthcare in our states.
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Exclusive Resources & Tools: Access a wealth of resources, including benchmarking data, compliance updates, and practical tools designed to streamline your operations and enhance efficiency.
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Leadership Development: Opportunities to serve on committees, share your expertise, and contribute to the future of healthcare management within our region.
We are committed to continually enhancing the value of your membership. I encourage you to actively participate in our events, engage with your fellow members, and leverage the vast resources available to you. Your involvement strengthens our community and helps us all navigate the complexities of healthcare with greater confidence.
Thank you for being a vital part of Az/Nm MGMA. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare management in Arizona and New Mexico.
Sincerely,
Kristy L. Fresh, MBA, FACMPE, LSSGB
Fresh Healthcare Advisors
Chief Executive Officer and Consulting Partner
Kristy.Fresh@FreshHCA.com
Arizona &New Mexico MGMA State Board Chair
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Gather ‘round . . .
What is your preferred time to attend an in-person, member-only Round Table discussion? Topics will vary but always be relevant to medical practice management. No sales, just practice management professionals like you engaged in interactive, collaborative and open discussions. These could be offered monthly or bi-monthly.
8:00 am
8:30 am
Noon
I can only collaborate virtually
I’m not interested
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Wed 7/16/25
Optimizing Recruitment in the Digital Age with Christy Bray Ricks
This session delivers a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge strategies for healthcare recruitment by merging digital marketing with recruitment innovation. Attendees will learn how to optimize job postings through SEO, salary transparency, and multi-touchpoint marketing, while leveraging the DRIVE Framework—Data, Recruitment Marketing, Innovation, Visibility, and Experience—to attract, engage, and retain top talent. Real-world insights from Practice Link showcase how data-driven decisions, emerging AI technologies, and candidate-centric processes can dramatically improve hiring outcomes. Participants will leave with actionable tactics to stand out in a saturated market, enhance recruitment efficiency, and create a seamless candidate journey that supports long-term retention.
Register Now!
Wed 7/16/25
12:00 - 1:00 pm MT
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Christy Bray Ricks is an experienced Provider Recruitment & Staffing professional with demonstrated success in the healthcare industry. She is skilled in Provider Relations, Team Building, Process Improvement, & Leadership. Christy brings a strong work ethic & time management skills to every endeavor. An eternal optimist, Christy loves serving others with compassion, dignity, & respect.
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Tues 7/22/25
2025 Washington Policy Mid-Year Update
MGMA Member Exclusive
As part of our partnership with National MGMA, we’re excited to offer exclusive access to the 2025 Washington Policy Mid-Year Update Webinar on July 22, 2025, at 1 pm ET (12 pm CT, 11 am MT, 10 am PT).
During this webinar, MGMA Government Affairs staff will provide an update on current and potential policy developments impacting medical group practices. The speaker will discuss the latest legislative and regulatory issues covering topics such as Medicare reimbursement, telehealth, quality reporting, and surprise medical billing.
This 60-minute webinar will provide you with the knowledge to:
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To sign up, please complete this form and National MGMA will follow up via email with login instructions.
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AZ and NM Legislative Updates
The AZ NM MGMA remains committed to keeping you informed of legislative developments impacting your practices.
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The legislative session in Arizona, and indeed across the nation, continues to be a dynamic arena for healthcare policy. As medical group managers, staying informed about these changes is not just important – it's crucial for ensuring the continued success and sustainability of our practices. Your Az/Nm MGMA is actively monitoring and engaging with legislative developments to advocate for your interests and keep you abreast of what's on the horizon.
While the Arizona legislative session recently concluded on May 23rd, 2025,with many bills already signed into law, the impact of these changes will continue to unfold. Here are a few key areas that have seen recent movement or remain a focus for advocacy:
Prior Authorization Reform and AI in Healthcare: A significant win for patient care and practice efficiency is HB2175, which was signed into law. This groundbreaking legislation prohibits insurance companies from using Artificial Intelligence as the final decision-maker in denying claims and prior authorizations for medical necessity. This means that medical necessity denials will now require review by a licensed medical director exercising independent clinical judgment, safeguarding patient access to appropriate treatment and reducing the improper use of automated systems. This is a crucial step towards reducing administrative burden and ensuring human oversight in critical healthcare decisions.
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Streamlining Credentialing: Another impactful piece of legislation, SB1291, shortens the credentialing timeline for providers from 100 days to 60 days and allows for retroactive billing during the credentialing period. This is a welcome change that will enable physicians to begin serving patients sooner, directly addressing a significant administrative hurdle for medical groups.
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Mental Health and Access to Care: Several bills focused on improving mental health access. For instance, SB1590 clarified and amended the definition of "autism spectrum disorder" for insurance coverage purposes, and HB2332 expands access to postpartum mental health support, particularly in rural Arizona, by establishing an Advisory Committee on Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Maternal Mental Health. This commitment to behavioral health parity remains a key focus.
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Workforce Development: Legislation like SB1395, which allows international medical graduates to receive their medical license on the same timeframe (one year) as U.S. graduates, addresses critical workforce shortages. This is essential for ensuring a robust pipeline of healthcare professionals in our region.
What This Means for Your Practice:
These legislative updates, and many others, directly impact your practice's operations, financial viability, and ability to deliver quality patient care. Az/Nm MGMA is committed to providing you with the resources and information you need to navigate these changes effectively.
We encourage you to:
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Stay tuned for future communications: We will continue to provide detailed analyses and guidance on relevant legislation.
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Engage with our advocacy efforts: Your voice matters! When calls to action are issued, please consider participating to amplify our collective impact.
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Utilize your Az/Nm MGMA membership resources: Our educational programs, networking events, and online resources are designed to help you understand and adapt to the evolving regulatory environment.
Thank you for your continued dedication to healthcare excellence in Arizona and New Mexico. By staying informed and engaged, we can collectively shape amore favorable legislative landscape for medical group practices and the patients we serve.
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Passed Healthcare Legislation in New Mexico (2025 Session)
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SB 376 – State Employee Health Insurance Premium Reductions
Reduces health insurance premiums for New Mexico state employees and addresses the budget gap in the State Health Benefits program. Takes effect July 1, 2025.
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SB 120 – No Cost-Sharing for Behavioral Health Services
Eliminates cost-sharing (copays, deductibles) for behavioral health services in state-regulated insurance plans.
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HB 15 – Healthcare Strategic Recruitment Program
Launches a program to attract and retain healthcare workers in underserved areas across the state.
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SB 3 – Behavioral Health Trust Fund
Establishes a $1 billion trust fund to rebuild the behavioral health system, focusing on addiction and mental health treatment.
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HB 586 – Healthcare Transaction Oversight
Grants the state more authority to review and potentially block hospital and health system transactions to protect patient access and quality.
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Regional Ambassadors - help coordinate virtual and / or local in-person events
- Tucson, AZ
- Albuquerque or Santa Fe, NM
Membership Committee Member -
The Membership Committee welcomes new members to AZ NM MGMA, and helps promote membership.
Education & Events Committee - help identify topics and speakers/facilitators for both online and in-person events.
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form (scroll to the bottom of the page) or contact aznmchapter@mgma.com for more information.
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