Ronald M. Davis, MD
The AMA Alliance: making a difference in public health
In last week's column, I briefly mentioned the combined financial contribution the AMA Foundation and the AMA Alliance have made to medical schools nationwide. This week I'd like to go into detail about the AMA Alliance's many community service projects and public health activities that promote the wellness of our nation.
The AMA Alliance is a grassroots volunteer organization and health advocacy network affiliated with the AMA that is dedicated to educating and advocating for healthier communities and lifestyles. Founded in 1922, the AMA Alliance was formerly known as the Women's Auxiliary to the American Medical Association, and later, the AMA Auxiliary. Most of its 25,000 members are spouses of physicians and physicians-in-training, and many physician-members participate in its community work. In February, the AMA Alliance and its president, Dianne Fenyk, were featured in Physician Practice magazine.
Part of the AMA Alliance's mission is to "support the family of medicine," and this objective was on full display during an April 2 rally in Washington, D.C., during the AMA National Advocacy Conference (NAC). Dozens of AMA Alliance members joined physicians and medical students on Capitol Hill to urge congressional support for the Save Medicare Act of 2008 (PDF, 74KB), an important bill that would prevent a steep cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect on July 1, retain current levels for the remainder of 2008, and enact a 1.8 percent increase in 2009. I greatly appreciate the AMA Alliance's participation in the rally.
Read more>>
Please send comments, questions, and replies to amaprez@ama-assn.org.
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Your news interests
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Faculty practice physician issues
1) In the Los Angeles Times: UCLA medical records breached
Group practice physician issues
1) Aetna’s “Aexcel” program measured against AMA’s principles for pay-for-performance
programs
2) AMA offers new educational resource on fee schedules
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA supports reauthorization of J-1 visa program
2) Vote online today in AMA-IMG Section Governing Council election
Medical school news
1) Register for the 2008 AMA-SMS Annual Meeting
2) Resolution deadline is fast approaching
3) In AMA GME e-Letter: Pediatrics faces “triple whammy” of funding cuts,
eliminations
4) Latest COGME reports are now available online
Medical student issues
1) Get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week
2) Apply for leadership position on AMA-MSS Governing Council
3) Reserve your hotel room now for 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting
4) AMA-MAC and AMA-WPC online elections now open
5) Apply for AMA-MSS Chapter of the Year
6) Webcast explores future of health care
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority
physicians
1) Your voice matters: Vote in the AMA-MAC Governing Council election today
2) NCQA accepting applications for multicultural health care award
Organized medical staff issues
1) 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting hotel and flight information available
2) Registration now live for 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting
3) Webcast investigates health information transformation
4) View webcast on revised Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20
5) Check out most recent webcast on economic credentialing
6) Webcast explores future of health care
7) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 governing council election
8) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
9) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship”
available online
Resident and fellow issues
1) Apply for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
2) Webcast explores future of health care
3) In AMNews: Ohio mandates clarity in health plan contracts
4) AMA-WPC online election now open
5) Vote online for AMA-MAC Governing Council candidates
Senior physicians issues
1) From the AMA-SPG online discussion board: A message from your chair
2) Save the date: Coffee hour with past AMA presidents on June 14
Women physician and women's health issues
1) AMA-WPC online election polls now open
2) In AMNews: Resident match day breaks records for applicants and couples
Young physician issues
1) AMA-YPS accepting nominations for its 2008–2009 governing council
2) AMA-MAC online election underway
3) AMA-WPC online election now open
4) 2008 Community Service Award nominations due May 1
5) In AMA GME e-Letter: Pediatrics faces “triple whammy” of funding cuts, eliminations
General AMA news:
1) Call Congress to support S. 2785
2) Important NPI date approaching for claims and cash flow
3) CME and CEU credits offered for AMA Web conferences
4) AMA Foundation to pay tribute to its donors during annual Celebration of Giving
5) In JAMA: Risk of death from rofecoxib in trials may have been misrepresented by Merck; guest authors, ghostwriters frequently appear for studies involving rofecoxib
Your news interests
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Faculty practice physician issues
1) In the Los Angeles Times: UCLA medical records breached
A hospital worker at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center breached the
files of 61 patients, including Maria Shriver and other celebrities, according to a report in
the Los Angeles Times. The breaches exposed UCLA to state sanctions. UCLA said it
learned about the widespread breaches last May and terminated the employee the same month. State
regulators began investigating last month after media reported the hospital was firing 13
workers and disciplining 12 others for viewing pop star Britney Spears’ records during her stay.
As more medical institutions seek ways to bring current technology into their medical records,
the UCLA incident highlights the privacy challenges involved with computerized records.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) Aetna’s “Aexcel” program measured against AMA’s principles for pay-for-performance programs
The AMA has constructed a chart that compares Aetna’s description of its “Aexcel” physician
profiling and ranking program and its implementation strategies to the five AMA Principles for
Pay-for-Performance Programs. The chart also includes AMA analyses of, and comments on, each
Aexcel program component. Senior staff of Aetna have reviewed the chart, and some of their
comments are incorporated.
This chart will help physicians effectively analyze and identify problems and positive practices of the Aexcel program. Individual physicians and physician practices can use this comparison in their managed care contracting activities with Aetna, and the AMA and other state and specialty societies can use this analysis to influence change in the design of physician profiling programs. The AMA plans to prepare additional analyses of other major physician profiling programs in the future.
View the Aexcel chart, along with charts of UnitedHealthcare’s “Premium designation” program and Wellmark’s “Incent and reward best practices” program.
2) AMA offers new educational resource on fee schedules
The AMA has developed a new resource, entitled “Fee schedule analysis: Using your complete
practice cost as a guide.” This tool can help physicians and practice staff establish a practice
fee schedule based on the actual cost to provide a service rather than on what a third-party
payer or other entity decides is fair payment. The tool includes a 12-step guide with an
easy-to-complete spreadsheet.
AMA members can view and download these tools under the “Defensible fee schedule” toolkit.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA supports reauthorization of J-1 visa program
The AMA recently sent a letter to Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., expressing strong support for S.
2672, the Conrad State 30 Improvement Act, which would reauthorize the J-1 visa program. The AMA
supports key provisions in this bill that would create a mechanism for expanding the cap on J-1
visa waivers and exempt physicians upon completion of their service requirement from green card
caps.
View the AMA’s letter to Sen. Conrad.
2) Vote online today in AMA-IMG Section Governing Council election
The AMA-IMG Section Governing Council election is taking place now through May 14. AMA-IMG
Section members should be on the lookout for a postcard containing their pass code information
and voting instructions. Please note that you must be an AMA member to vote.
Vote today and help shape the future of medicine for IMGs.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) Register for the 2008 AMA-SMS Annual Meeting
The next AMA-SMS meeting will be held June 13–15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This meeting will
provide medical education colleagues an opportunity to network, help develop AMA policy, discuss
issues affecting medical education and elect the next AMA-SMS Governing Council.
On June 13, the AMA-SMS will hold a joint educational session with the AMA Medical Student Section on recommendations from the comprehensive review of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and implications for licensure. The section will also hold a joint educational program with the AMA Councils on Medical Education and Science and Public Health on the challenges facing faculty, featuring speaker Darrell Kirch, MD, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges. On June 14, the AMA-SMS will present a panel on teaching teamwork and its impact on patient care. An open forum session will include discussions on competencies in geriatric medicine for medical students, advancing the use of performance measures in medical education and mini-presentations on innovations in faculty development.
Meeting registration and hotel reservation information were mailed to all section representatives last week. If materials are not received by April 21, send an e-mail to Jackie Drake or call the section office at (312) 464–4655.
Visit the Web site for meeting details.
2) Resolution deadline is fast approaching
The AMA-SMS Governing Council is accepting resolutions that address areas of importance to
academic physicians that will be considered at the AMA-SMS business meeting on June 14, prior to
submission to the AMA House of Delegates. Resolutions are due April 21.
Send an e-mail to Jackie Drake if you have questions or a proposed resolution.
3) In AMA GME e-Letter: Pediatrics faces “triple whammy” of funding cuts,
eliminations
Threatened cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid funding of graduate medical education (GME) are an
ill-timed “double whammy” for medical education. Pediatrics, however, is facing a “triple
whammy” with the added threat to the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education program. The
proposed 2009 federal budget eliminates this program, through which hospitals train 35 percent
of all pediatricians, half of all pediatric subspecialists and the large majority of the
nation’s pediatric research scientists.
Read more on this and other issues in GME in the April issue of the AMA GME e-Letter.
Subscribe to the free monthly e-mail newsletter.
4) Latest COGME reports are now available online
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released two of the latest reports
from the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME). The 18th report, “New paradigms for
physician training for improving access to health care,” focuses on medical access problems
facing the nation’s rural areas and the urban uninsured. Five recommendations are proposed,
including creating a national medical school and reinvigorating Title VII health professions
funding, targeting training to create a physician workforce in underserved areas.
The 19th report, “Enhancing flexibility in graduate medical education,” discusses the restrictions on the number of residency positions and training sites available. Four recommendations are proposed, including a 15 percent increase in funding, new training models to meet community needs and decentralization of training sites.
View the reports.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week
As a part of Cover the Uninsured Week (CTUW), April 27–May 3, medical students at Southern
Illinois University School of Medicine will hold a community health fair for the uninsured.
Blood pressure, vision, mental health and bone density screenings will be performed. Medical
students, with physician oversight, will provide counsel to patients in need of further
follow-up and informational booths will provide materials on nutrition, smoking cessation,
insurance programs, and Medicare and Medicaid.
Contact Junaia Carter for more information about this event.
What is your chapter doing for CTUW? The AMA-MSS has many resources to help you plan an event in your area. Learn how to get involved and plan an event at your chapter.
2) Apply for leadership position on AMA-MSS Governing Council
Interested in a national leadership position with the AMA-MSS? Elections for the 2008–2009
AMA-MSS Governing Council will be held at the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting, June 12–14,
in Chicago.
Download (PDF, 79KB) the governing council position guide.
Apply (Word, 67KB). Applications are due May 18.
3) Reserve your hotel room now for 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting
The AMA reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate of $189 per night for AMA-MSS Annual
Assembly Meeting attendees at the Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown. Rooms are sure to go
fast, so make your hotel reservation by May 16. In addition, the AMA has teamed up with United
Airlines to offer annual meeting attendees a special discount of 5 percent on airfare.
Register for the meeting and learn more about hotel and airfare discounts. We hope to see you in Chicago.
4) AMA-MAC and AMA-WPC online elections now open
The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (AMA-MAC) and Women Physicians Congress (AMA-WPC) are
pleased to announce candidates and appointments for their online elections, taking place now
through May 14. View candidate profiles
and access an electronic ballot for the AMA-MAC election or view candidate profiles and access an
electronic ballot for the AMA-WPC election. AMA membership is required to vote in these
elections. Postcards, including voting instructions and pass code information, were sent early
April via mail to all AMA-MAC and AMA-WPC members.
Please note that all female AMA medical students are automatically registered as members of the AMA-WPC, and all male medical students are strongly encouraged to opt in by sending an e-mail to Wilda Knox with your name and the subject heading “Opt-in.”
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
5) Apply for AMA-MSS Chapter of the Year
To better recognize the true strength of the AMA and local school chapters, the AMA-MSS will
present its fourth annual Chapter of the Year award at its upcoming annual assembly meeting,
June 12–14, in Chicago. Chapters will be selected based on their efforts in several areas,
including advocacy, community service and membership. The winning chapter will receive a $500
grant for its activities. Applications are due April 30.
Congratulations to previous Chapter of the Year award winners, including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, 2007; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 2006; and Baylor College of Medicine, 2005.
Read more about past winners of the award and apply.
6) Webcast explores future of health care
What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care? A new webcast launched by
the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section discusses and defines this question by exploring trends
in their component parts, including cost, access, quality and security of benefits, and
describes future scenarios for health care, examining the implications for all health care
stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
>>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) Your voice matters: Vote in the AMA-MAC Governing Council election today
The 2008 AMA-MAC Governing Council online election polls are open now through May 14. All
AMA-MAC members were sent a postcard with voting instructions and pass code information via mail
in order to take part in the election. Please note that AMA membership is required to vote in
this election.
Access the election ballot link and view the candidate profiles.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
2) NCQA accepting applications for multicultural health care award
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is accepting applications for its 2008
Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award. The award recognizes health plans for
their exemplary efforts and demonstrated effectiveness in promoting cultural competence and
addressing the health care needs of diverse members.
Visit the Web site for an application and additional information. Applications are due May 30.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting hotel and flight information available
Book your hotel and flight reservations now for the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting, June
12–14, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Book your reservations. Make your reservation by the cutoff date of May 12 to ensure your requirements are met. Room availability cannot be guaranteed after this date.
2) Registration now live for 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting
The 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting will be held June 12–14 at the Hyatt Regency
Chicago.
Register online today.
3) Webcast investigates health information transformation
In light of the current national enthusiasm for electronic health records (EHR), the AMA-OMSS
created a webcast that will help physicians identify their individual electronic record
requirements. This webcast analyzes the strengths and possible pitfalls of current electronic
history and physical designs and functionality, as well as offering potential remedies for
identified problems. It also provides measures and benchmarks for evaluating a system’s ability
to meet medical practice needs for quality care, compliance, usability, efficiency, data
integrity and productivity. Finally, it provides a protocol and assesses the realistic manpower
needs for the EHR transformation.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
4) View webcast on revised Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20
The AMA-OMSS launched a new webcast on revised Standard MS.1.20 that addresses how medical
staffs can successfully implement the revised Joint Commission Medical Staff Bylaws Standard
MS.1.20 and provides an overview of the recently adopted revisions. Compliance with this
standard by July 2009 is critical to preserving medical staff self-governance.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
5) Check out most recent webcast on economic credentialing
Learn how to implement strategies to address the potential implementation of economic
credentialing with the newest webcast from the AMA-OMSS. In addition, this webcast assists
medical staffs in understanding legal issues involving economic credentialing policies and
accessing physician/hospital rights and remedies and developing other methods for addressing
physician/hospital disputes.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
6) Webcast explores future of health care
What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care? A new webcast launched by
the AMA-OMSS discusses and defines this question by exploring trends in their component parts
(cost, access, quality and security of benefits) and describes future scenarios for health care,
examining the implications for all health care stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and
local communities.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
7) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 governing council election
Interested in holding a leadership position within the AMA-OMSS? The AMA-OMSS Governing Council
election for the 2008–2010 term will be held at the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting in
June.
Download an application. Applications are due May 14 to the attention of Kathleen Cole. Send an e-mail to Kathleen Cole or a fax to (312) 464-5845 with your application in order to be included in the online version of the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting handbook. The online handbook will be available May 22; hard copies will be passed out at the meeting.
Visit the Web site for more information on AMA-OMSS Governing Council leadership opportunities and responsibilities.
8) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and are 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 re-engineering. 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 members can view (PDF, 996KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
9) 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.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) Apply for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
The AMA-RFS is seeking a resident representative to the Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education (ACGME). This council—composed of the AMA, American Hospital Association,
Association of American Medical Colleges, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, American Board
of Medical Specialties, a resident physician, a representative from the government and two
members from the public—is responsible for accrediting more than 6,000 residency programs
throughout the United States. The ACGME meets three times per year and establishes general
performance parameters for programs and approves specific accreditation recommendations of the
residency review committees. The term of this position is two years.
Apply. Applications are due June 2.
2) Webcast explores future of health care
What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care? A new webcast, launched by
the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section, discusses and defines this question by exploring trends
in their component parts, including cost, access, quality and security of benefits, and
describes future scenarios for health care, examining the implications for all health care
stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
3) In AMNews: Ohio mandates clarity in health plan contracts
The Ohio State Medical Association scored a victory as Gov. Ted Strickland signed the Healthcare
Simplification Act, which requires health insurers to be more transparent about contract terms,
including disclosing what insurers will pay for services and regulating the use of silent
preferred provider organizations (PPOs). The law not only mandates insurers to spell out what
physicians will be paid, but it also requires both a contract “summary disclosure form,” which
clearly outlines the key parts of the agreement, and a “uniform credentialing form.” The act
places limits on rental networks, or silent PPOs, which allow health plans to gain access to
other companies’ network physicians, while reimbursing physicians at the lowest rate
available.
Most of the provisions become effective June 25. In a letter of support of the bill to state Rep. Scott Oelslager, AMA executive vice president and CEO Michael D. Maves, MD, wrote, “…it is an important step in providing greater fairness and transparency in the contracting process and ultimately benefiting the patient by ensuring that patient care, rather than administrative paperwork, serves as the top priority.”
View the April 14 American Medical News (AMNews) article.
4) AMA-WPC online election now open
The 2008 AMA Women Physicians Congress (AMA-WPC) Governing Council online election is open now
through May 14. Be sure to look for your postcard in the mail which contains voting instructions
and pass code information. Please note that only AMA members are eligible to vote in this
election.
View the candidate profiles. Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
5) Vote online for AMA-MAC Governing Council candidates
The AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (AMA-MAC) Governing Council election is taking place by
electronic ballot now through May 14. View
candidate profiles and obtain an electronic ballot.
Please note that only AMA members are eligible to vote in the election. Postcards were sent to AMA-MAC members with online voting instructions and a pass code.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) From the AMA-SPG online discussion board: A message from your chair
From AMA-SPG chair William E. Jacott, MD:
“To join the AMA-SPG you must be 65 years of age or older and an AMA member.
You may be eligible if:
- You carry a Medicare card.
- You actually voted for JFK.
- You can remember when gas was 35 cents a gallon.
- You have to rest after putting on your shoes and stockings.
- You are always allowed to enter or exit an elevator first.
- You can remember when FPs were GPs.
- You still have ink stains from trying to make copies with a mimeograph machine.
- You once had to get out of your chair to change a TV station and watch your favorite shows in black and white.
The AMA-SPG online discussion board allows senior physicians to share their opinions and experiences. Send an e-mail to Alice Reed if you would like to add your fond memories to Dr. Jacott’s list online. You will receive a link to the discussion group, along with a username and password which enables you to log on and add your comments.
2) Save the date: Coffee hour with past AMA presidents on June 14
The AMA-SPG is sponsoring a caucus for senior physicians from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 14 at the
Hyatt Regency in Chicago as part of the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates. A guest
panel is scheduled to attend, including three former AMA presidents—Daniel H. Johnson Jr., MD
(1996–1997), Lonnie R. Bristow, MD (1995–1996) and Robert E. McAfee, MD (1994–1995), who will be
presenting “Life after practice and organized medicine leadership.” All are welcome to attend
and network with new colleagues and old friends.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) AMA-WPC online election polls now open
The 2008 AMA-WPC Governing Council election polls are open for voting now through May 14. All
AMA-WPC members were sent a postcard with voting instructions and pass code information via
mail. Please note that AMA membership is required to vote in this election.
View a list of candidates and their profiles, and access the link to the online ballot. Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
2) In AMNews: Resident match day breaks records for applicants and couples
This year, 738 couples applied for residencies—a record-breaking number. Of these couples, 94
percent matched on Match Day, March 20.
View the April 7 American Medical News (AMNews) article and read how matching couples is no small task and why this trend may be interesting.
Visit the Web site for additional information on Match Day.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) AMA-YPS accepting nominations for its 2008–2009 governing council
The AMA-YPS is currently accepting nominations for the following leadership positions on its
governing council:
- Chair-elect, who will serve a three-year term: one year as chair-elect, one year as chair, and one year as immediate past chair
- Speaker, who will be elected to a one-year term in 2008 (beginning in June 2009, the speaker will be elected to a two-year term)
- Delegate, who will represent the AMA-YPS in the AMA House of Delegates for a two-year term
Learn more about the governing council election and download a nomination form.
2) AMA-MAC online election underway
The AMA-Minority Affairs Consortium (AMA-MAC) is pleased to announce candidates and appointments
for its election taking place by electronic ballot now through May 14. View candidate profiles and obtain an
electronic ballot. Please note that only AMA members are eligible to vote in the election and
will receive a postcard in early April with online voting instructions and a pass code.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with questions.
3) AMA-WPC online election now open
The 2008 AMA-WPC Governing Council election is open for voting now through May 14. Be sure to
look for a postcard in the mail which contains voting instructions and a pass code. Please note
that AMA membership is required to vote in this election.
View the candidate profiles.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox with any questions.
4) 2008 Community Service Award nominations due May 1
Through its annual Community Service Award, the AMA-YPS strives to not only recognize excellence
in community service activities carried out by young physicians but to also encourage similar
efforts by other doctors. Nomination forms for the 2008 Community Service Award are due May 1.
Award recipients will be selected by the AMA-YPS Governing Council and honored for their work
during the AMA-YPS Annual Assembly Meeting June 13.
Learn more and download an award nomination form.
5) In AMA GME e-Letter: Pediatrics faces “triple whammy” of funding cuts, eliminations
Threatened cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid funding of graduate medical education (GME) are an
ill-timed “double whammy” for medical education. Pediatrics, however, is facing a “triple
whammy,” with the added threat to the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education program.
The proposed 2009 federal budget eliminates this program, through which hospitals train 35
percent of all pediatricians, half of all pediatric subspecialists and the large majority of the
nation's pediatric research scientists.
Read more on this and other issues in the April issue of the AMA GME e-Letter.
>>Return to your news interest contents
General AMA news
1) Call Congress to support S. 2785
On July 1, Medicare will slash physician payments 10.6 percent. Time is running out. Call your members of Congress and let them know how important the Save Medicare Act of 2008 (S. 2785) is for seniors and their doctors.
The bill would prevent the 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payments planned for July 1, retain current payment levels for the remainder of 2008 and enact a 1.8 percent increase for 2009. Call the AMA Grassroots Hotline at (800) 833-6354 to be connected to your members of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor and pass S. 2785.
Download the AMA’s Medicare Physician Payment Action Kit.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) Important NPI date approaching for claims and cash flow
Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), old legacy numbers will not be accepted on any electronic claims after May 23. Claims will only be accepted with a National Provider Identification (NPI) number. That deadline applies to all payers—public and commercial.
Physicians are strongly urged to test sending their claims with just their NPI as soon as possible to avert claims processing and cash flow interruptions that could occur after May 23. Physicians also should ensure that all of their information in the NPI database is up to date. Incorrect information in the NPI database can affect a payer’s ability to identify a physician and pay his or her claims.
Physicians can change or update their information by visiting the Web site or calling (800) 465-3203. In section 3C of the paper form, physicians are encouraged to write their legacy numbers in the optional field labeled “other identifiers.”
Medicare has taken several steps to prepare for the May 23 deadline. As of March 1, claims sent to Medicare must not contain a legacy number alone: they must contain an NPI or both an NPI and a legacy number. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that 98 percent of claims have been successfully submitted since mid-March.
However, some physicians are experiencing disrupted cash flow and claims processing, particularly if Medicare has been unable to appropriately “match” a physician’s old legacy number to their new NPI number in their systems. In certain cases, physicians have been required to re-enroll in order for Medicare to establish a good match. The AMA has strongly advocated through numerous phone calls and letters to CMS against policies that adversely impact physicians in this way.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) CME and CEU credits offered for AMA Web conferences
Do you want to learn how to negotiate and manage payer relationships and distinguish your practice’s value to payers in a way that results in higher reimbursements?
On April 24, the AMA will host a 90-minute Web conference, entitled “Getting paid what you deserve: Strategies for reimbursement and payer contracting,” that will help physicians understand how to accomplish just that.
Registration is $125 for AMA members ($200 for nonmembers), and includes continuing medical education (CME) credit of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or 1.5 continuing education units (CEU) toward renewal of Professional Association of Health Care Office Management Medical Manager certification.
Visit the Web site for complete details and to register. This program is geared toward doctors and practice managers in small- to medium-sized group practices and features speaker Rick Langosch, chief financial officer of the health care consulting firm the Coker Group.
Accreditation statement
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation statement
The American Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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4) AMA Foundation to pay tribute to its donors during annual Celebration of Giving
There's no better way to recognize supporters for their service and philanthropy to medicine than through an honorary evening of celebration.
Each year the AMA Foundation hosts the Celebration of Giving to pay tribute to the generosity of its donors and generate awareness in the health care profession of its worthy contributions and programs. Prior to the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, the family of medicine will gather from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on June 13 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago to celebrate the spirit of giving. The evening will include a raffle* with a cash prize, complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music.
If you would like to personally thank or congratulate someone for their service or volunteer efforts, you have the opportunity to do so now. As part of the AMA Foundation’s Celebration Donor booklet, you can sponsor a page to honor those who have made a difference with a personalized heartfelt message. Individuals, medical societies, Alliances and physicians in group practices are all invited to create their own messages to share with their heroes in medicine as a special lifelong note of thanks.
If you would like to sponsor a full, half or quarter page of the donor booklet, contact Anne Smith, the AMA Foundation’s manager of annual giving, at (312) 464-4701 by May 23.
Learn more about the AMA Foundation’s programs.
*Raffle rules are available on-site.
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5) In JAMA: Risk of death from rofecoxib in trials may have been misrepresented by Merck; guest authors, ghostwriters frequently appear for studies involving rofecoxib
A comparison of internal company documents, data submitted by the company to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and published clinical trial results indicates that the risk-benefit profile of rofecoxib in clinical trials involving patients with cognitive impairment may have been misrepresented by study sponsor Merck, according to an article in the April 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
In the same issue, an examination of medical articles about rofecoxib and court documents from litigation related to this product indicates that company employees or other unacknowledged authors were frequently involved in writing clinical trial articles and review articles, but that primary authorship was often attributed to academically affiliated investigators who may have had little to do with the study, or who did not always disclose financial support from the sponsor of the study.
In an accompanying editorial, authors comment on both studies in this week’s JAMA, documenting the apparent misrepresentation of research data by one company and its manipulation of clinical research articles and clinical reviews.
View the first study.
View a JAMA Report video about this study.
View the second study.
View an editorial related to both studies.
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