Ronald M. Davis, MD
Vote with the uninsured in mind
With the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries both in the books, the race to the White House has officially begun. Elections in those two states traditionally mark the opening of the U.S. presidential election, although the heavy media coverage some candidates have received for the past several months essentially launched this election season some time ago.
With health care such a major issue in this election, that coverage has helped the AMA generate awareness of the need to expand health insurance coverage to more of the nation's 47 million uninsured patients. Through the "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign, the AMA is focusing public attention on this problem while familiarizing presidential candidates and voters with our proposal to expand coverage for the uninsured (PDF, 32KB).
Read More>>
Please send comments, questions, and replies to amaprez@ama-assn.org.
eVoice®
Jan. 11, 2008
AMA eVoice is your regular update on the most important health care issues and recent AMA activities.
The AMA is committed to communication. We encourage you to help us spread the word by forwarding AMA eVoice to your colleagues.
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Johns Hopkins University receives $10 million grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Group practice physician issues
1) Monthly fines imposed on residents in Massachusetts without health insurance
2) AMA practice tip: Appointment scheduling and your bottom line
International medical graduate issues
1) Apply by Jan. 14 for AMA Foundation grants for free clinics
2) AMA-IMG Section is seeking candidates for its Governing Council election
Medical school news
1) Applications sought for Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund
2) Virtual Mentor examines ethical issues in diagnosing and treating addiction
3) In the Washington Times: Efforts to increase medical school enrollment could place financial burden on the U.S. health care system
4) You're invited to a symposium on biosafety in February
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar and apply for AMPAC Campaign School, April 9–13
2) National Institutes of Health offers fellowship program
3) Apply now for AMA-MSS leadership positions
4) AMA offers health policy opportunities for medical students
5) Save the dates for upcoming AMA-MSS regional meetings
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority
physicians
1) Become a part of the AMA-MAC Governing Council
2) AMA offers Web-based course in disaster preparedness
Organized medical staff issues
1) Now available: "Physician's guide to medical staff organization bylaws"
2) Printable version of "Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship" available
online
3) Share your organization's informed consent forms with AMA-OMSS
4) 2007 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting summary slide presentation available
Resident and fellow issues
1) Serve as a representative on the AMA-MAC Governing Council
2) AMA-WPC seeks women leaders
3) Make an impact as a leader in the AMA
4) Resident discount available for AMA Medical Communications Conference
5) Study: Patients more satisfied when doctors empathize
Senior physicians issues
1) Medicare covers pneumococcal vaccine
Women physician and women's health issues
1) Submit Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund applications by Feb. 1
2) Call for AMA-WPC Governing Council candidates
Young physician issues
1) Deadline extended for Medicare participation decision
2) Be wary of unsolicited faxes requesting your practice information
3) AMA bylaws amended to enhance young physician participation
4) January issue of Virtual Mentor now available
General AMA news:
1) "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign goes national
2) Physicians will be paid correctly, CMS says
3) Register now for AMA National Advocacy Conference
4) Are your medical staff's bylaws up to date?
5) New online video covers universal HIV screening
6) On Sermo: FDA seeks your input about medical devices containing DEHP
7) In JAMA: Rural patients less likely to receive organ transplants
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Johns Hopkins University receives $10 million grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Johns Hopkins University has received a $10 million grant to lead a study on trachoma, a leading
cause of blindness affecting approximately 84 million people each year. Trachoma is caused by chlamydia
bacterium and spread by contact in unsanitary conditions, particularly among children. Repeated
infections can scar the eyelids, ultimately leading to damage of the cornea and blindness.
Per an article in the Baltimore Sun, trachoma still exists in 48 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East. Researchers at Johns Hopkins are looking into two solutions—a new surgical technique as well as the best strategy of delivering antibiotics.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) Monthly fines imposed on residents in Massachusetts without health insurance
Beginning in 2008, Massachusetts residents without health insurance will receive monthly fines that
could equate to as much as $912 for individuals, and $1,824 for couples. The new fines are part of
health care legislation approved by lawmakers, and signed off on by Gov. Mitt Romney. The penalties will
apply to those adults who are able to afford health insurance. An appeal process will be available for
those who face penalties.
2) AMA practice tip: Appointment scheduling and your bottom line
Something as simple as appointment scheduling can help improve a physician practice's bottom line. For
example, gathering basic patient data at the time the appointment is scheduled allows for the
verification of the patient's health insurance information before a patient's visit.
To help physicians in this endeavor, the AMA, in conjunction with the Kentucky Medical Association, developed the resource, "Appointment scheduling to improve your bottom line."
AMA members can view (PDF, 26KB) this resource.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) Apply by Jan. 14 for AMA Foundation grants for free clinics
The AMA Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2008 Healthy Communities/Healthy America
program—an initiative that awards grants of up to $25,000 to physician-led free clinics that provide
direct care to the underserved and uninsured. To help fund the program, Pfizer Inc. awarded the AMA
Foundation a gift of $500,000.
"Pfizer's generous donation will allow us to continue addressing the growing problem of the uninsured and recognizing the extraordinary efforts of physician and community volunteers," said AMA Foundation President Barbara A. Rockett, MD.
Grants will be awarded to existing free clinics that request funds for specific projects and demonstrate excellence in providing affordable medical services, physician volunteerism, resourcefulness and leveraging abilities. Federally-qualified health centers and referral networks that coordinate care but do not provide direct care themselves are not eligible to apply.
Last year, the AMA Foundation awarded Healthy Communities/Healthy America grants to 10 free clinics across the country. A second cycle of grants will be awarded this summer.
Learn more and apply. Letters of inquiry are due Jan. 14.
2) AMA-IMG Section seeks candidates for Governing Council
The AMA-IMG Section Governing Council is seeking candidates to fill one IMG resident/fellow position and
two physician positions for its 2008 election. Nomination applications are due March 7, and candidates
will elected in mid-April by AMA-IMG Section members. All candidates must submit an application,
curriculum vitae and high-resolution electronic photo. Endorsements and letters of support from medical
associations are optional.
Those interested in the resident/fellow position must apply to the AMA Resident and Fellow Section first. Apply to the section.
Download (PDF, 68KB) a nomination form.
Send an e-mail if you have any questions.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) Applications sought for Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund
Physicians interested in applying for the 2008 Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund must do so by Feb. 1.
The AMA Women Physicians Congress established this scholarship with the goal of advancing the progress
of women in the medical profession and strengthening the AMA's ability to identify and address the needs
and interests of women physicians and medical students.
Learn more and download an application.
Learn more about AMA Foundation scholarship opportunities and application deadlines.
2) Virtual Mentor examines ethical issues in diagnosing and treating addiction
The January issue of Virtual Mentor, the AMA's online ethics journal, examines traditional and
newly classified compulsive behaviors and asks specifically how physicians can improve their
recognition, diagnosis and treatment of addiction. Although addiction to alcohol and drugs has long been
recognized as a medical condition, treating it successfully has continued to elude doctors and health
experts.
Read the January issue.
3) In the Washington Times: Efforts to increase medical school enrollment could place
financial burden on the U.S. health care system
Training more physicians to serve an aging U.S. population might increase health care costs, as well as
expenses for Medicare, according to researchers at Dartmouth Medical School, reported in a Jan. 2
Washington Times article.
View the article.
4) You're invited to a symposium on biosafety in February
Health care professionals and other experts in clinical research, safety and animal care from across the
globe will gather at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10th International Symposium on
Biosafety Feb. 9–13 in Atlanta.
The goal of the symposium, "Protecting workers in clinical laboratories, research, animal care and public health communities" is to promote safe, healthful working practices in the research and production of biological products. AMA members are invited to join colleagues for networking opportunities and a series of educational sessions on such topics as risk assessment and management, worker protection, and facility design and equipment.
AMA Trustee Ardis D. Hoven, MD, will moderate a breakout session on clinical issues, including controversies in pre-placement and medical surveillance, ergonomic approaches to injury prevention, key factors for effective training programs, and the evaluation and management of laboratory exposures and injuries.
The symposium is presented in partnership with the American Biological Safety Association and the Eagleson Institute and is cosponsored by the AMA.
Visit the Web site for more information and to register. You may also call (207) 490–1076 to register. Call (800) 524–0500 to reserve a room at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar and apply for AMPAC Campaign School, April 9–13
The AMA Political Action Committee (AMPAC) Campaign School—held for more than 20 years—is an
intensive, hands-on curriculum for training physicians and students as expert campaign volunteers and
strong advocates for medicine. Recent student attendees include:
- Chris DeRienzo, student representative, AMA Board of Trustees
- Jay Widmer, student representative, AMPAC Board of Directors
- Kristopher Crawford, MD, former student representative, AMPAC Board of Directors and current member of South Carolina House of Representatives
- Peter Ragusa, AMA-MSS alternate delegate and 2006–2007 Government Advocacy Relations Fellow
Medical student admission is limited, so students must also submit a 500-word essay on why they would like to attend the program and what they hope to gain from attendance. AMPAC covers all costs for hotel, meals, faculty and materials. Transportation to the Washington, D.C., area is not covered. The 2008 AMPAC Campaign School will be held April 9–13 at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va.
Student applications and essays are due Jan. 18.
Please send an e-mail to Jim Wilson or visit the Web site for more information.
2) National Institutes of Health offers fellowship program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Research Training Program is a yearlong program
designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical and dental students to the intramural
campus of the NIH in Bethesda, Md. Participants, known as fellows, spend a year engaged in a mentored
clinical or translational research project in an area that matches their personal interests and
goals.
Please visit the Web site for more information. The application deadline is Jan. 16.
3) Apply now for AMA-MSS leadership positions
Are you interested in becoming more involved in the AMA-MSS? If so, apply for one of the various
leadership roles in the AMA. The AMA-MSS is accepting applications for student positions on the seven
AMA councils, the AMA Foundation Board, the National Resident Matching Program, the National Board of
Medical Examiners and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Applications are due Jan. 31.
Download applications for these positions.
Also, current student representatives are listed online. View a current list of representatives and their contact information. Feel free to contact them for more information about their positions.
4) AMA offers health policy opportunities for medical students
The AMA-MSS offers assistance to students seeking to increase their involvement and education in
national health policy and in the national legislative activities of organized medicine.
The Government Relations Internship Program (GRIP) is an opportunity for medical student members of the AMA to enhance their medical education through work in health care policy. Students must arrange their own six- to eight-week internships—between June and August—in advance. The deadline to apply for the GRIP is Feb. 15.
The Government Relations Advocacy Fellowship (GRAF) is a yearlong, paid fellowship in the AMA's Washington, D.C., office that offers medical students a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the intersection of organized medicine and the federal government as it relates to advocacy and policymaking. The deadline to apply for this fellowship is Jan. 31.
Learn more about the GRIP.
Learn more about the GRAF.
5) Save the dates for upcoming AMA-MSS regional meetings
AMA-MSS Regions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have meetings coming up, and you're invited.
The AMA-MSS Region 1 Meeting, entitled "Health care for the underserved: How will we achieve our goals?" will be held Jan. 18–20 at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Ore. Visit the Web site for more information.
The AMA-MSS Region 2 Meeting, entitled "Perspectives on genetic discrimination," will be held Feb. 29–March 1 at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa. Visit the Web site for more information.
The AMA-MSS Region 4 Meeting, entitled "Managing the health care team to achieve better patient care," will be held Jan. 11–12 at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. Visit the Web site for more information.
The AMA-MSS Region 5 Meeting, entitled "What can purple do for you?" will be held Feb. 29–March 1 at the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, W.Va. Visit the Web site for more information.
The AMA-MSS Region 6 Meeting, entitled "Students today, physicians tomorrow: The new face of medicine," will be held Feb. 1–2 at Temple University in Philadelphia. Visit the Web site for more information.
The AMA-MSS Region 7 Meeting, entitled "Becoming a better physician advocate," will be held March 1 at Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center in Long Island, N.Y. Visit the Web site for more information.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
(brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium)
1) Become a part of the AMA-MAC Governing Council
The AMA-MAC is seeking candidates for two AMA-MAC Governing Council positions to be elected this spring:
an AMA-MAC delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, and an at-large member. AMA-MAC members are
encouraged to apply online beginning Jan. 10 through Feb. 15. Also, appointments for new representatives
from the National Medical Association, the AMA Resident and Fellow Section and the AMA Medical Student
Section are being solicited from those respective groups.
Learn more (PDF, 84KB) about these and other leadership opportunities.
2) AMA offers Web-based course in disaster preparedness
Physicians and health care professionals who would be on the front lines if a disaster or mass-casualty
event strikes their community now have an easier way to ensure they're ready to serve as a first
responder to any public health emergency.
The AMA Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response has developed an online version of its nationally recognized Core Disaster Life Support® (CDLS®) course, making it possible to access this critical training when and where it's convenient for you.
Send an e-mail or call Suraj Madoori at (312) 464–4074 to get login instructions for the online CDLS course.
Visit the Web site for more information about the CDLS course and the rest of the AMA's National Disaster Life Support curriculum.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) Now available: "Physician's guide to medical staff organization bylaws"
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and legally binding in most states, it is
extremely important that they are well designed and well written. The fourth edition of the "Physician's
guide to medical staff organization bylaws" contains practical guidance on bylaws development, model
bylaw language, information on emerging issues and recent trends in medical staff reengineering. The
guide will be especially helpful to medical staffs as they update their bylaws to align with the revised
Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20.
AMA member can view (PDF, 999KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
2) Printable version of "Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship"
available online
A printable version of the "Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship," developed
by the AMA-OMSS and adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, is now available online.
View (PDF, 90KB) and download this resource. These principles are designed to improve the working relationship between physicians and hospitals, and ultimately foster better patient care and increase patient safety.
Send an e-mail to order a poster of the principles to post in your medical staff lounge.
3) Share your organization's informed consent forms with AMA-OMSS
The AMA-OMSS is working on developing a model "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services compliant"
informed consent form, and would like to hear from you.
Please send an e-mail to Courtney Perlino with the informed consent forms your hospital or organization is using.
4) 2007 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting summary slide presentation available
The AMA-OMSS has developed a tool through which AMA-OMSS representatives can communicate with their
medical staffs and medical societies about policy and education activities from the 2007 AMA-OMSS
Interim Assembly Meeting. This meeting summary slide presentation serves as the foundation for reports
that AMA-OMSS representatives make following the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
Please send an e-mail to Courtney Perlino to receive a copy of the PowerPoint®. Don't forget that the disposition of actions, meeting summary and highlighted reports from the 2007 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting are also available. Access them.
Access faculty presentations and handouts of the AMA-OMSS educational programs.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) Serve as a representative on the AMA-MAC Governing Council
The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) promotes education and advocacy on minority health issues and
works to increase diversity in AMA membership and leadership. All resident and fellow members are
eligible to apply for a two-year slotted seat on the AMA-MAC Governing Council.
Visit the Web site for more information and an application.
2) AMA-WPC seeks women leaders
The AMA Women Physicians Congress (WPC) promotes advocacy and understanding of women's health issues.
Resident and fellow members are eligible to apply for a two-year slotted seat on the AMA-WPC Governing
Council reserved for a resident or fellow physician. The applicants nominated by the AMA-RFS will be
placed on the ballot for election by current AMA-WPC members.
Visit the Web site for more information and an application.
3) Make an impact as a leader in the AMA
The AMA-RFS is currently seeking leaders to apply for positions on AMA councils. The AMA Council on Long
Range Planning and Development sets the course of the AMA as an organization and is seeking to fill a
three-year position chosen by the Speaker of the AMA House of Delegates. This council makes
recommendations on issues such as membership and finance, and evaluates other AMA planning
activities.
The AMA Council on Legislation meets six times a year to address federal legislation and AMA policies that deal with legislative issues and is seeking to fill a one-year position chosen by the AMA Board of Trustees.
The deadline to apply for both of these positions is Feb. 18.
Visit the Web site for more information and an application.
4) Resident discount available for AMA Medical Communications Conference
We are pleased to announce plans for the 28th Annual AMA Medical Communications Conference and an
opportunity for AMA members to take advantage of significant savings in the cost for registration.
The AMA Medical Communications Conference will be held April 16–18 at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego. Physicians interested in improving their message delivery will find this conference particularly helpful. Get hands-on communications training and hear from top-level medical communicators, government leaders and national journalists. Also in attendance are medical reporters and health care journalists, plus physicians and others hoping to break into these fields. AMA-RFS members will receive a significant discount on registration.
Learn more and register for the event.
5) Study: Patients more satisfied when doctors empathize
A study led by a professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York showed that doctors
only expressed empathy in 15 percent of their office visits, according to a Dec. 5, 2007, article on
Medical News Today.
Office visits by 100 actors were covertly recorded in Rochester, N.Y. In addition, the 4,746 patients surveyed felt doctors who showed empathy were more trustworthy.
The study builds upon previous studies that suggest good communication between doctors and patients, and a willingness to explore concerns, results in improved health care and lower costs.
View the article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) Medicare covers pneumococcal vaccine
In an effort to help spread the word about preventive services covered under Medicare, the AMA-SPG will
feature a specific covered service regularly in AMA eVoice.
Did you know Medicare will pay for your pneumococcal vaccine? And, did you know most people only need the shot once in a lifetime?
The groups at higher risk for invasive pneumococcal disease include those over 64 years and others with increased susceptibility to this infection, such as patients with the human immunodeficiency virus, splenectomy, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic disorders of the lungs or heart, and cirrhosis.
"Pneumovax will provide seniors protection against at least 23 different strains of pneumococcus," said AMA-SPG Chair William E. Jacott, MD. "The silent development of pneumonia in a person with chronic illness can lead to very serious outcomes. This is good preventive medicine."
Learn more about this service.
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Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) Submit Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund applications by Feb. 1
Applications for the 2008 Joan F. Giambalvo Scholarship Fund are due Feb. 1. This scholarship was
established by the AMA-WPC with the goal of advancing the progress of women in the medical profession
and strengthening the AMA's ability to identify and address the needs and interests of women physicians
and medical students.
Visit the Web site for additional information and to download an application.
2) Call for AMA-WPC Governing Council candidates
The AMA-WPC is seeking candidates for positions on the AMA-WPC Governing Council to be elected this
spring: three section representatives—one from the AMA Medical Student Section, the AMA Resident
and Fellow Section and the AMA Young Physician Section—and two at-large members.
All female AMA members are encouraged to apply for these positions—through the AMA-WPC Web site for the at-large positions and the respective section's Web site for the section representative positions—now through Feb. 15.
Learn more about these and other leadership opportunities, and apply.
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Young physician issues
1) Deadline extended for Medicare participation decision
With the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 now signed into law, physicians have until
Feb. 15 to make changes to their 2008 participation status in the Medicare program. The law postpones
for six months the 10.1 percent cut in the Medicare conversion factor and instead provides for a 0.5
percent increase from Jan. 1 through June 30. But the conversion factor adjustment is not the only
change affecting 2008 Medicare payment rates.
Visit the Web site for updated information about the various Medicare participation options and how the new law may affect your practice.
2) Be wary of unsolicited faxes requesting your practice information
This time of the year, physician practices typically receive an increased number of fax requests for
copies of the practice's or physician's W-9, National Provider Identifier or other information that
allows a payer to process your claims or update its physician roster.
While these fax requests may be legitimate, other unsolicited requests may only be masquerading as a proper request for information and may, in fact, bind you unknowingly to a contract with a provider network or other entity. Be sure to instruct your staff to read all faxes carefully. The physician or legal representative should carefully review and understand any agreement or contract before signing.
Please send an e-mail if your practice receives an unsolicited fax request from an unknown party.
3) AMA bylaws amended to enhance young physician participation
A bylaws change approved at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates aims to enhance
participation in the AMA-YPS Assembly by instituting a new proportional representation formula.
The new formula entitles state medical societies, national specialty medical societies and federal services to send at least two voting delegates to AMA-YPS Assembly meetings. There will no longer be alternate delegates in the AMA-YPS Assembly. Help us spread the word by letting your young physician colleagues and constituent/specialty societies know about this noteworthy change.
View (PDF, 25KB) the updated AMA-YPS bylaws.
4) January issue of Virtual Mentor now available
Although addiction to alcohol and drugs has long been recognized as a medical condition, treating it
successfully has continued to elude doctors and health experts. Recently an array of compulsive
behaviors—ranging from gambling and video game playing to sex—has been added to the list of
conditions medically defined as addictions. The Jan. 2008 issue of Virtual Mentor examines
traditional and newly classified compulsive behaviors and asks specifically how physicians can improve
their recognition, diagnosis and treatment of addiction.
Read January's Virtual Mentor online.
General AMA news
1) "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign goes national
Next time you turn on CNN, pick up a copy of Newsweek, or log on to USAToday.com, you might catch a glimpse of the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign.
Week of Jan. 7
- Fox News Channel (all day)
- "American Morning" on CNN
- "Larry King Live" on CNN
- "Investigation Discovery" on the Discovery Channel
- "Modern Marvels" on the History Channel
Week of Jan. 21
- "Health Stories" on Discovery Health
- "Project Runway" on Bravo
Week of Feb. 11
- "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" on CNN
Throughout the six-week blitz, "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign ads will also appear on the A&E, AMC and Oxygen networks, and on major news Web sites. You can find print ads in Newsweek, Time and Men's Health.
Learn more about the AMA's proposal for reform, sign the campaign's petition, download the "Voices" podcast series, view testimonials, ads and photos, and link directly to the presidential candidates' health care proposals.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) Physicians will be paid correctly, CMS says
Because Congress waited until late December to pass an intervention to temporarily avert the scheduled cut in 2008 Medicare physician payments, some Medicare contractors have not yet updated their Web sites to reflect the updated physician fee schedule.
Both the AMA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have heard from numerous physicians concerned about whether they will be paid correctly under the law. CMS has advised the AMA that all contractors were instructed to process claims with January 2008 dates of service using the new fees starting Jan. 7. The new fee schedule should be posted on contractors' Web sites by Jan. 11.
The "Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up" link on the CMS Web site, which allows users to customize a search, will be updated with the new 2008 fees during the week of Jan. 21. But the carrier-specific, public-use files are available now on the CMS Web site.
The law postpones for six months the 10.1 percent cut in the Medicare conversion factor and instead provides for a 0.5 percent increase from Jan. 1 through June 30. On July 1, the cut is scheduled to take effect, unless Congress intervenes. With a steep payment cut looming in the middle of the year, the decision to participate in Medicare in 2008 is more complicated than it was previously, particularly because your decision is binding for the entire year. CMS has extended the deadline to change your participation status to Feb. 15. The AMA has posted on its Web site updated information about the various Medicare participation options and how the new law may affect your practice.
Read (PDF, 56KB) detailed information about Medicare participation options.
Learn (PDF, 40KB) how the new law may affect physician practices.
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3) Register now for AMA National Advocacy Conference
Would you like the opportunity to speak in person with your members of Congress about how the Medicare physician payment situation and the problem of the uninsured affect your patients and you?
Make your voice heard at the AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2, at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. Attendees will learn from insiders about the political climate surrounding medicine's priority issues on Capitol Hill and how to communicate effectively with lawmakers and the media. Following these sessions, participants will meet with members of Congress and their staffs.
Other events surrounding the conference include the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service program, the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards Dinner, and the AMA Alliance Capitol Conference—Winter Session.
Learn more and register.
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4) Are your medical staff's bylaws up to date?
Because the Joint Commission recently updated its standard regarding medical staff bylaws, medical staffs are strongly urged to make sure their bylaws are up to date and aligned with the new standard. When were your medical staff's bylaws last updated?
In most states, medical staff bylaws are considered contracts and are legally binding, so it is important that they are well designed and well written. To help, the AMA has published the fourth edition of its "Physician's guide to medical staff organization bylaws," which offers model language that supports self-governance, information on emerging issues in health care, recent trends in medical staff re-engineering, and links and citations to laws and regulations, accreditation body standards, case law and relevant AMA policy.
AMA members can view (PDF, 995KB) and download the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
>>Return to your general news contents
5) New online video covers universal HIV screening
Approximately 1 million people in the United States are believed to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A quarter of them may be unaware they are infected, thus not getting necessary treatment and risking the unintentional transmission of HIV to others.
The AMA recently released the new online educational video, "Universal HIV screening and reducing HIV disparities" as part of its Educating Physicians on Controversies and Challenges in Health series. The five-minute streaming video aims to educate physicians on the implementation of universal HIV screening in practice as a strategy to reduce the transmission of HIV, which disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities.
View this and other free videos in the series. Also, learn more about how you can earn continuing medical education credit through this series.
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6) On Sermo: FDA seeks your input about medical devices containing DEHP
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted a poll on Sermo asking physicians about their knowledge and opinions regarding the widespread presence of a toxic chemical in medical devices made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The chemical, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is used as a plasticizer in a wide variety of consumer goods, including tubing, intravenous bags and catheters. There is concern that DEHP can leach from medical devices and into patients, posing health risks to vulnerable populations, notably male neonates.
The FDA notes in its posting that the AMA is among the groups calling for mandatory labeling of products containing DEHP. The AMA also encourages hospitals and physicians to reduce and phase out PVC medical device products, especially those containing DEHP, and use safe and cost-effective alternative products where available. The AMA urges manufacturers to expand the development of alternatives.
Sermo's posting from the FDA represents a new way for physicians to communicate their experience and opinions efficiently and anonymously with the FDA.
Visit Sermo to take the poll and join the discussion.
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7) In JAMA: Rural patients less likely to receive organ transplants
Patients in small towns and isolated rural areas have lower organ transplant rates and are less likely to be wait-listed than patients in urban areas, according to a study in the Jan. 9/16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Preview the study.
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Feedback
If you have specific comments on this edition of AMA eVoice, simply reply
to this message. For more general feedback on AMA eVoice, send an e-mail to evoice@ama-assn.org and alert the editor of your comments and
concerns. Do you have general questions about the AMA? Call the AMA Unified Service Center at (800)
262-3211.
Thank you for your AMA membership! The AMA's strength comes from its numbers. That strength grows when our membership increases — please urge your fellow physicians and medical students to join our cause by calling (800) 262–3211 or visiting the AMA Web site.
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