AMA passes new policy on treatment plans, influenza vaccine and health insurer transparency

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today at its Annual Meeting to adopt the following new policies for the nation's largest physician group.

Patient adherence to treatment plans: The AMA voted to recognize that patient adherence to any medical treatment program is necessary in order to achieve high quality and cost-effective health care, and agreed to develop a list of resources to help physicians and patients optimize adherence.

"For any health or wellness program to succeed, we must find ways to help patients follow through on treatment plans," said AMA President-elect Ronald M. Davis, MD. "The best health outcomes occur when the physician and patient work together toward a common goal."

Influenza vaccine supply and distribution: The AMA voted today to work with the CDC and influenza immunization partners to ensure adequate influenza vaccine distribution and administration to high-priority populations and that an adequate number of doses of every manufacturer's vaccine supply be sold directly to health care providers immunizing high priority patients.

"We must develop a more streamlined process for getting influenza vaccine into the hands of physicians to help patients become vaccinated," said AMA President-elect Ronald M. Davis, MD.

Health plan and insurer transparency: In support of consumer-directed health care and an end to the mystery of medical prices, the American Medical Association (AMA) today called on the health insurance industry to end efforts to conceal their pricing systems for medical services.

Physicians at the AMA Annual Meeting agreed that patients need price transparency from all sectors of the health care system, but noted that pricing is largely outside of physicians' control. It is based on a complex array of factors that are controlled by health insurers and often imposed upon physicians.

"There is no legitimate rationale behind health insurers' refusal to provide their payment policies and actual costs to patients and physicians," said Cyril Hetsko, MD, AMA Board Member. "It serves only as a means for the health insurance industry to avoid accountability."

As more Americans select consumer-driven health plans, there is a need for useful pricing information. "AMA policy already supports physicians disclosing fees to their patients," said Dr. Hetsko. "Attempts by major health insurers to provide price information are a good start, but
they do not provide patients with an entire picture of insurers pricing. Patients are being provided with incomplete and selective information"

AMA pledged to take actions that would promote true price transparency, including calling on health plans to make their payment policies, claims edits, benefit plan provisions and fee schedules available for public viewing.

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For more information, please contact:

Erin Woods
AMA Media Relations
(312) 464-5926

Lisa Bevilacqua
AMA Media Relations
(312) 464-5980