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November 1, 2007

eVoice^®

Nov. 1, 2007

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) Health plan payers' claim edits can affect a physician's bottom line
2) University of Michigan Health System launches $42.9 million expansion

Group practice physician issues
1) Protect your practice from inappropriate discounts
2) Report finds another eye on your patients' health expenses

International medical graduate issues
1) JCR launches credentialing and privileging consulting program
2) AMA-IMG Section members invited to inspire future physicians in Hawaii
3) Register by Nov. 1 for AMA-IMG Section events at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
4) Attend AMA sections and special groups events

Medical school news
1) November meeting agenda books mailed
2) In Medical Education Online: The psychometric characteristics of an OSCE/CEF composite score
3) In Archives of Internal Medicine: Residents' errors linked to teamwork breakdowns and lack of supervisors

Medical student issues
1) Keep up pressure on Congress to reinstate 20/220 pathway
2) Submit online testimony for the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting
3) Take part in AMA-MSS National Service Project at 2007 Interim Assembly Meeting
4) AMA-MSS introduces legislation and advocacy resources for AMA chapters

Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
1) AMA Foundation seeks minority leaders in medicine
2) Join your colleagues at AMA-MAC Interim Meeting events
3) Doctors Back to School event planned for Hawaii

Organized medical staff issues
1) Attend the Gary F. Krieger, MD, Memorial Lecture at the 2007 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting

Resident and fellow issues
1) Fight to restore economic hardship deferment
2) In AMNews: Members highlight problems with the elimination of economic deferment
3) Looking ahead after CHIP veto override falls short
4) Mark your calendar for 2007 AMA-RFS Interim Assembly Meeting educational sessions

Senior physicians issues
1) AMA-SPG adds international travel partner in 2008
2) AMA Bookstore offers titles of interest to seniors online

Women physician and women's health issues
1) AMA-WPC Interim Meeting events focus on physician mentoring
2) Mark your calendar: Learn about the future of medicine Nov. 9

Young physician issues
1) View 2007 AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting handbook online
2) Don't miss out on special events in Honolulu
3) Become informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals
4) Use YouTube videos to educate patients

General AMA news:
1) AMA to Congress: Health insurance mergers harm patients, physicians
2) When medicine and online conversations mix, keep a few things in mind
3) Concerned with placement in a tiered or narrow network? Challenge it
4) AMA's new online CME portal offers programs for primary care physicians
5) In Archives: Eating whole-grain breakfast cereals may be associated with a lower risk of heart failure for men

Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.

Faculty practice physician issues

1) Health plan payers' claim edits can affect a physician's bottom line
The AMA developed the resource, "The effect a payer's claim edits can have on the repricing and payment of your claim," to raise physician awareness of how a claim edit applied by a payer could affect the physician's bottom line. This flier highlights how a negotiated fee with a payer for a specific service performed does not necessarily translate into payment of that fee for that service on a claim. AMA members can download this informative practice management resource free of charge.

Members can download (PDF, 262 KB) this resource.

2) University of Michigan Health System launches $42.9 million expansion
The University of Michigan Health System is launching a $42.9 million expansion of its facilities for medical imaging and imaging-guided procedures, according to a report in the Detroit News. The expansion is a major investment that will allow more patients faster access to radiology services. The plans are in response to an increase in the university's doctors using imaging equipment to diagnose patients and perform procedures, in addition to increased patient volumes. Outpatient surgeries grew from 23,050 in fiscal year 2005 to 25,800 in fiscal year 2007, and visits to the emergency room increased from 72,931 to 75,273. Three projects, totaling $32.7 million, were approved by the University of Michigan Board of Regents for interventional radiology, breast imaging, CAT Scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. They add to a $10.2 million project to move nuclear cardiology facilities to a new location.

>>Return to your news interest contents

Group practice physician issues

1) Protect your practice from inappropriate discounts
Multiple payers could be taking advantage of your lowest contracted payment rate through the use of a rental network preferred provider organization (PPO). The AMA developed "Read your contracts: Is your practice losing revenue through rental network PPOs?" booklet to educate physicians about how to identify and protect their practices from inappropriate discounts. The publication is available free online to AMA members.

Members can download (PDF, 161KB) this resource.

2) Report finds another eye on your patients' health expenses
Many employers are now utilizing care managers or integrated health managers to review employees' health care and reduce costs, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Typically, care managers, such as Healthways, Inc., and ParadigmHealth Inc., review physician's treatment plans to check for compliance with evidence-based practices. Some patients and physicians are concerned that care managers are primarily motivated to reduce costs by denying or switching certain medications and procedures. Some observers note that care management programs should take care to honor the patient-physician relationship and focus on delivering quality health care, not just cost reduction.

>>Return to your news interest contents

International medical graduate issues

1) JCR launches credentialing and privileging consulting program
Joint Commission Resources (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of the Joint Commission, has launched a new consulting program to help hospitals improve the credentialing and privileging process for physicians. The framework for JCR's credentialing and privileging consulting service is based on new medical staff standards introduced by the Joint Commission for 2007–2008. The consulting service is designed to provide hospitals with an evidence-based portfolio of indicators that are linked to privileges, tools to strengthen systems related to credentialing and privileging, data sources to objectively measure medical staff performance, and compliance assessment strategies.

Learn more about JCR credentialing and privileging consulting

2) AMA-IMG Section members invited to inspire future physicians in Hawaii
The AMA Doctors Back to School (DBTS) program is calling on physicians to take part in a DBTS visit, Nov. 8 at Mililani Middle School in Mililani, Hawaii (just outside of Waikiki, Hawaii).

DBTS is a program that aims to raise awareness of the need for more minority physicians and to encourage children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option.

Learn more.

Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox if you would like to take part in one of the visits listed here or if you are interested in hosting a DBTS event in your community.

3) Register by Nov. 1 for AMA-IMG Section events at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
Attend the following AMA-IMG Section events at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, and make sure your voice is heard on important AMA-IMG Section issues.

AMA-IMG Section Congress—4:30–6 p.m., Nov. 9, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu
AMA-IMG Section Caucus—5:30–7 p.m., Nov. 10, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
AMA-IMG Delegate Caucus—8–9:30 a.m., Nov. 12, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu
AMA-IMG Leadership Session, "Communication effectively"—9:30–11:30 a.m., Nov. 12, Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu

4) Attend AMA sections and special groups events
All AMA-IMG Section physicians are invited to attend the following joint AMA sections and special groups events held at the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Honolulu. Don't miss out on the following events:

AMA sections and special groups luau—9–11 p.m., Nov. 8
Continuing medical education session, "The future of medicine," and lunch—noon–1:30 p.m., Nov. 9
AMA welcoming reception, honoring the AMA Women Physicians Congress—6–7 p.m., Nov. 9
Educational session, "Washington update"—8–8:30 a.m., Nov. 10

>>Return to your news interest contents

Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)

1) November meeting agenda books mailed
The AMA-SMS Interim Meeting agenda books were mailed the week of Oct. 21.

Send an e-mail or call the AMA-SMS office at (312) 464–4655 if you registered for the meeting and have yet to receive your agenda book.

Visit the Web site for meeting details.

2) In Medical Education Online: The psychometric characteristics of an OSCE/CEF composite score
A recent study of two medical student classes from a large medical school demonstrated that assessment information based on simulated and actual patient encounters can be combined into a composite, according to an article in Medical Education Online. Since a composite score may provide a more valid measure of clinical performance, the study supports using a combined clinical evaluation form (CEF) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

View (PDF, 271KB) the article.

3) In Archives of Internal Medicine: Residents' errors linked to teamwork breakdowns and lack of supervisors
According to a new study funded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, physicians-in-training are highly vulnerable to making medical errors that stem from teamwork breakdowns, especially a lack of supervision by experienced staff. The study, "Medical errors involving trainees: A study of closed malpractice claims from five insurers," appears in the Oct. 22 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

View the article.

Medical student issues

1) Keep up pressure on Congress to reinstate 20/220 pathway
The AMA is advocating on several fronts to restore an education financing program that allowed up to 67 percent of resident physicians to qualify for economic hardship deferment, and thus defer payment on subsidized loans for three years without accruing interest.

Student and resident members of the AMA organized a vocal protest to Congress when they learned that the "20/220 pathway" had been eliminated on Oct. 1 as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Under the 20/220 pathway, residents qualified for economic hardship deferment on their loans if their debt burden was greater than 20 percent of their income, and if their income minus their debt burden was not greater than 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Under a new program, loan repayments would be capped at 15 percent of the borrower's income that is above 150 percent of the federal poverty level. But the new program doesn't start until July 1, 2009, leaving today's residents in a financial pinch.

The AMA is urging the U.S. Secretary of Education to enact a regulatory solution to extend the 20/220 pathway until the new loan repayment program takes effect in July 2009, and to allow current participants in the economic hardship deferment to finish out their remaining years of eligibility.

Contact your senators and representatives today.

Learn more about 20/220 and how it affects you.

2) Submit online testimony for the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting
Are you unable to attend the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting in Hawaii but would still like to make your voice heard on items of business to be considered by the AMA-MSS Assembly? If you are an AMA-MSS member, you can now submit online testimony to the AMA-MSS Reference Committees prior to the meeting. Online testimony will be accepted from 9 a.m. CST, Oct. 26 to 5 p.m. CST, Nov. 2. Please do not submit online testimony if you plan to give testimony in person in Hawaii.

Submit your testimony.

3) Take part in AMA-MSS National Service Project at 2007 Interim Assembly Meeting
As part of the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign, medical students will distribute AMA materials and talk to families attending a high school championship football game about the crisis of the uninsured and voting with this issue in mind in the upcoming election. Be sure to attend the National Service Project orientation at 7:30 a.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu. Transportation to the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and AMA T-shirts (while supplies last) will be provided. Please wear your scrub pants.

Send an e-mail by Nov. 2 to Meltem Zeytinoglu to R.S.V.P. Per stadium policy, only those who R.S.V.P. will be allowed entry into the stadium.

This project was made possible by an AMA Foundation Grant. Visit its Web site to learn more.

4) AMA-MSS introduces legislation and advocacy resources for AMA chapters
Would you like to start legislation advocacy at your chapter but don't know where to begin? The AMA-MSS Committee on Legislation and Advocacy (COLA) can help. COLA has created dozens of "meetings-in-a-box" and PowerPoint presentations that address legislative issues important to medical students. Each presentation is specifically designed to be presented as a stand-alone module by someone who is not familiar with the topic and features background on the issue, its current legislative status, and what medical students can do to become involved. Each presentation also has an accompanying one-page issue brief for students to take with them.

Visit the Web site or send an e-mail to COLA Vice chair and COLA Political Education Subcommittee Chair Andrew Landstrom to learn more.

>>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) AMA Foundation seeks minority leaders in medicine
Have you or someone you know exhibited outstanding leadership in organized medicine, advocacy, community service, public health or education? Medical students, resident/fellow physicians, early career physicians and established physicians are encouraged to apply for the 2008 AMA Foundation Leadership Awards. As a program of the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards, the AMA Foundation Leadership Awards are presented in collaboration with the AMA sections and special groups and in association with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.

The AMA Foundation Leadership Awards program aims to:

Reward outstanding nonclinical leadership skills in community service, education, public health and/or advocacy
Encourage involvement in organized medicine
Provide leadership development for the country's brightest and most energetic leaders in the medical field

Award recipients receive paid travel expenses to the AMA Foundation's Leadership Awards program and the AMA's National Advocacy Conference from March 30 to April 2, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about the awards and apply. Applications are due Dec. 7.

In addition to the leadership awards, the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards include the Pride in the Profession, Dr. Nathan Davis International and the Jack B. McConnell, MD, Awards.

2) Join your colleagues at AMA-MAC Interim Meeting events
All AMA-MAC members are invited to attend the AMA-MAC Caucus from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. In addition to caucus business, the program will feature AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD, and National Medical Association Past President Sandra Gadson, MD. As co-chairs of the Commission to End Health Care Disparities, Drs. Davis and Gadson will discuss important issues impacting the health of minority communities.

AMA-MAC members are encouraged to attend the joint sections and special groups reception from 9 to 11 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. Also, the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section will be hosting an educational session, "The future of health care: The quest for value for all Americans," led by Ian Morrison, an author, consultant and futurist. The session will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu. A box lunch for the event can be purchased for $20. Advanced registration for lunch is required.

3) Doctors Back to School event planned for Hawaii
The AMA-MAC invites all physicians attending the 2007 Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Hawaii to participate in a Doctors Back to School (DBTS) visit from 8:30 to 11 a.m., Nov. 8 at the Mililani Middle School in Mililani, Hawaii (just outside of Waikiki, Hawaii). DBTS is a program that raises awareness of the need for more minority physicians and encourages children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option.

Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox if you would like to take part in this DBTS visit or would like more information on setting up a visit in your community.

>>Return to your news interest contents

Organized medical staff issues

1) Attend the Gary F. Krieger, MD, Memorial Lecture at the 2007 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting
Plan now to attend the Gary F. Krieger, MD, Memorial Lecture from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 in Honolulu. Ian Morrison, keynote speaker of the luncheon, will deliver remarks addressing the future of health care. Specifically, his presentation will focus on the political, economic and strategic context of change in health care and examine how the various actors are preparing for the future. In discussing the quest for value in health care, he will also identify leadership opportunities and provide strategic insights on how organizations and individuals can flourish in the new millennium in health care. Advanced registration for the lecture and lunch is required. There is no cost for attending the lecture. However, attendees may purchase lunch for $20. Payment for lunch will be collected on-site at the conference registration.

Learn more and register.

>>Return to your news interest contents

Resident and fellow issues

1) Fight to restore economic hardship deferment
The AMA-RFS has another tool for you to join the fight in restoring the economic hardship deferment that was eliminated with the enactment of the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 2669) on Sept. 27, 2007.

Visit the Web site for an easy, quick way to e-mail Congress.

Also, see the AMA's letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling about the implementation of a proposed rule (P.L. 110-84) that would delay the elimination of the hardship deferment.

2) In AMNews: Members highlight problems with the elimination of economic deferment
The elimination of a key pathway to economic hardship deferment as part of the College Cost Reduction Act has many residents questioning how they will manage to start paying back their medical school debt while continuing to train as physicians. AMA-RFS Governing Council member Kimberley Ruscher, MD, stated in a Nov. 5 American Medical News (AMNews) interview that "this is a gigantic problem for me, and it's gigantic for medical students and residents across the country. The rules have been changed on us midstream." With the elimination of the economic hardship deferment, her only option, like a majority of residents, will be forbearance.

View the AMNews article.

3) Looking ahead after CHIP veto override falls short
Since the House failed to override President Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007, the AMA has continued to work with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to pass legislation, said Board of Trustees Chair Edward L. Langston, MD. Democrats may try to pass a one-year program reauthorization, which would extend the program beyond the November 2008 elections. House and Senate Republicans introduced their CHIP bill, the More Children, More Choices Act, on Oct. 18.

View an American Medical News (AMNews) article with opinions from organized medicine on this issue.

4) Mark your calendar for 2007 AMA-RFS Interim Assembly Meeting educational sessions
Take this opportunity to hear from authorities on the following topics at the AMA-RFS Interim Assembly Meeting, Nov. 8–10 in Hawaii:

"Contract negotiation" at 8 p.m., Nov. 8—Hear from an expert on what you need to know when negotiating an employment agreement.
"Practice setting options" at 9:30 a.m., Nov. 9—Listen to practicing physicians discuss practice settings, what drew them to their respective setting and some of the advantages/challenges inherit in their chosen setting.
"Complementary and alternative medicines and your practice" at 11 a.m., Nov. 10—Find out how complementary and alternative medicines affect the way you practice.

Learn more (PDF, 122KB) and view the dates and times of these sessions.

>>Return to your news interest contents

Senior Physicians issues

1) AMA-SPG adds international travel partner in 2008
The AMA-SPG is pleased to welcome a new addition to its travel program for international travel. Academic Arrangements Abroad—a leader in educational travel—offers cultural excursions with an inside look into a country though a network of academic community and museum curators. In 2008, seniors can travel aboard the Sea Cloud II, a sailing ship modeled after Marjorie Merriweather Post's legendary Sea Cloud, from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Copenhagen, Denmark. The Baltic trip is offered July 5–16. An optional excursion is offered to St. Petersburg, Russia, for three nights.

Learn more about these trips and others, and download a brochure. Send an e-mail to Alice Reed or call (312) 464–5523 for hard copies of the brochure or more information.

2) AMA Bookstore offers titles of interest to seniors online
Are you planning to ease into retirement, start a new career or interested in seeing what other retired physicians are doing?

Review the latest book offerings at the AMA Bookstore for senior physicians and an updated list of current titles of interest to seniors. Many topics are best-sellers and some of our newest selections include interactive guides for retirement. A long-standing favorite, The Art of JAMA includes some of the artwork from the covers of past issues of the Journal of the American Medical Association and is available in a two-volume coffee table-sized printing.

>>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 Interim Meeting events focus on physician mentoring
All AMA-WPC members and attendees of the 2007 AMA Interim Meeting are invited to attend the welcome reception sponsored by the AMA-WPC from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. Festivities include a special display recognizing those mentors nominated in our first AMA-WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program.

Learn more about the physician recognition program and to view a list of physicians being honored.

The AMA-WPC Caucus will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Nov. 10 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. This caucus includes a discussion of excellence in mentoring with a panel of caring and committed mentors identified through the AMA-WPC Physician Mentor Recognition Program, along with the caucus business program and networking opportunities.

All AMA-WPC members are also encouraged to attend the joint sections and special groups reception from 9 to 11 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu.

2) Mark your calendar: Learn about the future of medicine Nov. 9
The AMA Organized Medical Staff Section will be hosting an educational session, "The future of health care: The quest for value for all Americans," led by Ian Morrison, an author, consultant and futurist on from noon to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu. A box lunch for the event can be purchased for $20. Advanced registration for lunch is required

>>Return to your news interest contents

Young physician issues

1) View 2007 AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting handbook online
Are you heading to Hawaii next week? If so, view the 2007 AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting handbook. The handbook includes the latest meeting agenda, networking resources and items of business to be considered at the Nov. 8–10 meeting in Honolulu.

Send an e-mail if you have questions regarding items in the handbook or the meeting.

2) Don't miss out on special events in Honolulu
Young physicians attending the Nov. 8–10 AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting in Honolulu are encouraged to attend the following special events:

Joint reception—The AMA sections and special groups are hosting a joint reception from 9 to 11 p.m., Nov. 8 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. This event is a great opportunity to meet with fellow AMA-YPS members and also network with colleagues from other AMA sections and special groups.
AMA welcome reception—An AMA welcome reception, hosted by the AMA Women Physicians Congress, is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu.
C. Clayton Griffin, MD, memorial luncheon/educational session—Scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, this session will focus on administrative simplification and automation of the physician practice.
"Washington update"—Young physicians are invited to join the AMA Organized Medical Staff Section for a Washington update, followed by a presentation on the keys to the successful implementation of the new Joint Commission Medical Staff Standard (MS.1.20), beginning at 8 a.m., Nov. 10 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu.

Send an e-mail if you have questions about the AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting or any of the events listed above.

3) Become informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals
Health care reform is shaping up to be one of the most important issues in the 2008 presidential election, and the AMA is pleased to see so many of the declared candidates making health care a top priority.

Access direct links to each declared candidate's health care proposal.

Access the Kaiser Family Foundation's interactive online tool in order to create a side-by-side comparison of the candidates' positions on health care.

4) Use YouTube videos to educate patients
Armed with data showing that 71 percent of U.S. adults have used the Web to research health information, Medem has announced a new service that enables doctors to embed YouTube-hosted videos into their iHealth practice Web sites. The videos can be used to educate patients, explain treatment plans or procedures and introduce their practices to new patients. More than 70,000 U.S. physicians currently have iHealth practice Web sites, including many members of the AMA. Founded by the AMA and several national medical specialty societies, Medem offers a suite of Web-based services to engage patients in better managing their health.

Learn more about Medem.

Learn more about how to make an iHealth video.

>>Return to your news interest contents

General AMA news

1) AMA to Congress: Health insurance mergers harm patients, physicians
In recent testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, the AMA warned about the dangers of consolidation in the health insurance market and how it negatively impacts physicians and their patients. During the testimony, AMA Immediate Past President William G. Plested III, MD, strongly opposed UnitedHealth Group's proposed merger with Sierra Health Systems, a move that would give United 80 percent of the health maintenance organization market in the entire state of Nevada.

"This merger would have a devastating impact on Nevada's patients and physicians, and would reverberate throughout the health care system as a harbinger of unrestricted consolidation," Dr. Plested said.

Read Dr. Plested's full statement.

>>Return to your general news contents

2) When medicine and online conversations mix, keep a few things in mind
With the advent of Web-based communities for physicians such as Sermo—and the growing universe of blogs related to health care and medicine—comes the need for increased vigilance surrounding privacy, confidentiality and other issues. The AMA has compiled a few things to keep in mind when participating in these forums.

If you're simply a reader—or "lurker" in online parlance—remember to use your professional judgment and consideration for the specific clinical situation when drawing any conclusions from a clinical-related posting. Be aware that a posting or discussion thread may not disclose its author's conflict of interest. Understand that online discussions do not constitute a post-market surveillance program for a drug or device. And always presume that the information in online posts will not remain confidential, proprietary or protected from unauthorized access by third parties.

When discussing a topic in which you may have a conflict of interest, disclose it. If you mention a professional organization in your comments and you are a member, be sure to indicate whether you are speaking for yourself or on behalf of the organization. Don't make comments that can be construed as infringing the intellectual property rights of others or invading anyone's personal privacy. Finally, avoid the use of defamatory, obscene, threatening, harassing or abusive language.

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3) Concerned with placement in a tiered or narrow network? Challenge it
To help physicians understand how best to challenge their placement in health insurers' networks, the AMA has created a new one-page flier, "How to challenge your ‘profile' or placement in a tiered or narrow network." This resource offers physicians eight steps to follow when challenging their network placement with insurers. These steps mirror the problems physicians have identified with these types of programs, such as the use of claims data, inadequate risk adjustment, lack of an appeal mechanism or invalid ratings.

Download (PDF, 37KB) this resource.

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4) AMA's new online CME portal offers programs for primary care physicians
Primary care physicians now have a free continuing medical education (CME) resource available online at the click of a mouse.

The AMA recently launched AMAprimarycare.org—a portal that offers Web-based CME programs in several therapeutic areas that can be completed at your own convenience. It includes a broad range of certified educational programs on three clinical topics: depression, Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes. These programs were developed with independent education grants from Eli Lilly, Teva Neuroscience, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, respectively.

Each tract provides practical, evidence-based information to stimulate physician learning on the diagnosis, management and treatment of these illnesses and strategies to help improve patient outcomes. The programs include video webcasts with clinical exchanges between primary care physicians and key medical specialty leaders, and slide presentations with audiocasts developed under the direction of expert advisory boards specific to each therapeutic area.

The AMA will continue to add new programs relevant to primary care physicians. Make sure to bookmark the Web site and check back for new programs.

Learn more and access these educational activities online and register.

The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Nonphysicians may receive a certificate of participation for completing this activity.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM.

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5) In Archives: Eating whole-grain breakfast cereals may be associated with a lower risk of heart failure for men
Men who consume a higher amount of whole-grain breakfast cereals may have a reduced risk of heart failure, according to a report in the Oct. 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)/Archives journals.

Preview this study.

>>Return to your general news contents

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Last updated: Nov 01, 2007
Content provided by: Member Publications