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November 29, 2007
eVoice®
Nov. 29, 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) How to challenge your "profile" or placement in a tiered or narrow network
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) New Web site created for psychiatrists regarding treatment of GLBT patients
Group practice physician issues
1) Study shows physician executive compensation continues to increase
International medical graduate issues
1) Deadline for AMA Foundation Leadership awards fast approaching
2) Resource can help doctors overcome language barriers with patients
Medical school news
1) 2007 Interim Meeting highlights
2) Promote the AMA-SMS to your colleagues
3) In Medical Education Online: Teaching resident physicians to teach
Medical student issues
1) AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting recap
2) New leaders elected to the AMA-MSS
3) AMA-MSS policy highlights from the 2007 Interim Assembly Meeting
4) Research Poster Symposium winners announced
5) Are you informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals?
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority
physicians
1) Office guide focuses on overcoming language barriers
2) Minority leaders in medicine wanted by Dec. 7
Organized medical staff issues
1) AMA House of Delegates adopts principles for strengthening the physician-hospital
relationship
2) Listen to Joint Commission conference calls on MS.1.20 and new leadership standards
3) Journal supplement highlights new findings on risks to patient safety and quality of care
4) CMS delays implementation of certain stark law revisions
Resident and fellow issues
1) Opportunity to represent the AMA-RFS on AMA councils
2) Looking for leaders in medicine
3) In AMNews: Questions to ask before joining a medical practice
Senior physicians issues
1) Health care insurance more difficult to come by for those over 50
Women physician and women's health issues
1) Nominations for Advancement of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine award sought
2) From the Kaiser Family Foundation: An issue brief on Medicaid's role for women
Young physician issues
1) Young physicians help set new policy at AMA Interim Meeting
2) AMA bylaws amended to enhance young physician participation
3) New AMA Web portal offers free primary care CME programming
4) In AMA GME e-Letter: More medical students—now what?
General AMA news:
1) Know your options for participating in Medicare in 2008
2) AMA backs bill to restore medical education loan deferment
3) "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign accelerates into December
4) Only a few days left to resubmit CAD mammography claims to CIGNA
5) Worry-free travel for you and your family, available 24/7, worldwide
6) Deadlines approaching for AMA Foundation award nominations
7) On Sermo: Turn the tables? Physician interest in profiling health insurers
8) In JAMA: High-trauma fractures in older adults associated with osteoporosis, increased risk of another fracture
Your news interests
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Faculty practice physician issues
1) How to challenge your "profile" or placement in a tiered or narrow network
The AMA has created a one-page resource that offers physicians seven steps to follow when
challenging 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 and invalid ratings.
AMA members can download (PDF, 116KB) this free resource.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) New Web site created for psychiatrists regarding treatment of GLBT patients
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Issues Committee of the Group for the
Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP)—a U.S. organization of psychiatrists dedicated to shaping
psychiatric thinking, public programs and clinical practice in mental health—has created a
new Web site with the goal to teach psychiatry residents about caring for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and intersex patients. The LGBT Issues Committee hopes it will also be
useful to all health and mental health trainees and practitioners.
Visit the Web site to learn more.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) Study shows physician executive compensation continues to increase
Physician executive compensation increased 7.5 percent to $258,000 from $240,000 between 2005
and 2007, according to a survey conducted by Cejka Search and the American College of Physician
Executives. Chief medical officers made the second-highest 10-year gain in compensation of 46
percent—exceeded only by division/department chairs and managers with a 49 percent increase
in compensation. The study concluded that bonuses continue to represent a growing component of
administrative compensation. The proportion of female survey respondents was 13 percent in 2007
compared with 10 percent in 1997. Forty percent of the women responding to the 2007 survey were
medical directors, which is the title held by the greatest number of women overall. The position
of medical director appears to be the entryway for female physicians who are pursuing an
executive career path.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) Deadline for AMA Foundation Leadership awards fast approaching
Dec. 7 is the deadline for applications for the AMA Foundation Leadership Awards program.
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.
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) Resource can help doctors overcome language barriers with patients
The limited English proficient (LEP) population is rising in both rural and urban areas of the
United States. The rise in the LEP patient population has triggered an increasing language gap
among patients and physicians during health care encounters, which can result in
miscommunication.
The AMA's second edition of its "Office guide to communicating with limited English proficient patients" offers detailed information and resources that physicians and other health care professionals can use to provide better care to patients with LEP. The booklet explains how LEP affects patient care and offers strategies to address the language needs of patients in a culturally, linguistically and an ethically appropriate manner. It includes commonly asked questions surrounding the issue of LEP, tips for working effectively with interpreters, and a chart to explain when to use varying levels of interpretation resources.
Download (PDF, 607 KB) a copy or send an e-mail to Jennifer Matiasek if you would like a hard copy for your office.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) 2007 Interim Meeting highlights
At its recent Interim Meeting, the AMA House of Delegates set new policies on covering the
uninsured, antitrust relief, Medicare payment issues and much more.
View (PDF, 180KB) highlights for Nov. 11.
View (PDF, 152KB) highlights for Nov. 12.
View (PDF, 173KB) highlights for Nov. 13.
View (PDF, 52KB) highlights of section and special group meetings.
View (PDF, 39KB) policy highlights of the reference committees.
View the AMA-SMS meeting highlights.
2) Promote the AMA-SMS to your colleagues
The AMA-SMS Governing Council is extending an invitation to all academic physicians to join the
section to help develop strategies that will strengthen the section and policies of the AMA. The
AMA-SMS provides a voice in AMA House of Delegates deliberations and offers a forum for
discussing policies on medical education and national research and health care issues. A major
goal of the AMA-SMS is to enhance communication between the medical education community and the
AMA. Encourage your colleagues to join the AMA-SMS—their creative energy is needed to keep
academic medicine strong and thriving.
E-mail Jackie Drake for application details.
3) In Medical Education Online: Teaching resident physicians to teach
A recent study evaluated the impact of a longitudinal multi-disciplinary teaching curriculum on
resident participants' self-perceived teaching skills. Resident physicians often have primary
responsibility for teaching medical students, but receive no formal instruction on effective
teaching. According to an article in Medical Education Online, a successful teaching
curriculum increases resident interest in teaching and influences self-efficacy and
self-assessed teaching skills.
View (PDF, 271KB) the article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting recap
The AMA-MSS held its 29th Interim Assembly Meeting, Nov. 8–10 at the Hawaii Convention
Center, Honolulu. More than 600 medical students attended the meeting, which offered over 30
educational programs on a wide range of topics, including covering the uninsured, retail health
clinics, medicine's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and current legislative
issues.
The keynote address was presented by Renée R. Jenkins, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who spoke on the importance of serving as a patient advocate both within the clinical setting and the political arena.
The AMA-MSS continued its National Service Project, "Covering the uninsured and protecting access to care," on Nov. 9 with an event at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. As part of the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign, more than 30 medical students distributed AMA materials and spoke with 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.
Visit the Web site for a complete summary of the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting.
2) New leaders elected to the AMA-MSS
The AMA-MSS is pleased to announce the election of the new AMA-MSS chair-elect, vice chair and
trustee:
- AMA-MSS chair-elect—Michael Chapman, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- AMA-MSS vice chair—Reid Orth, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- AMA trustee—Kendall Allred, University of Arizona College of Medicine
At the 2008 Annual Meeting, elections will be held for AMA-MSS vice chair, delegate, alternate delegate, at-large officer, speaker and vice speaker.
Obtain (PDF, 79KB) a copy of the AMA-MSS Governing Council position guide or contact a current member of the AMA-MSS Governing Council for more information about these leadership positions.
Apply (Word, 67KB) for the AMA-MSS Governing Council. Applications are due May 18, 2008.
3) AMA-MSS policy highlights from the 2007 Interim Assembly Meeting
The AMA-MSS Assembly considered 30 items of business at the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly
Meeting, including 26 resolutions and four reports. Issues considered were wide-ranging and
included medical education, public health, legislation and a number of internal AMA-MSS issues.
Fourteen of these items were adopted, eight of which will be forwarded to the AMA House of
Delegates (HOD) for consideration at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Two items were referred
for report.
Visit the Web site (PDF, 39KB) for a complete listing of 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting actions.
4) Research Poster Symposium winners announced
The Fifth Annual Research Poster Symposium was held in conjunction with the AMA Resident and
Fellow Section at the 2007 AMA-MSS Interim Assembly Meeting, with an educational grant from the
Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative. The event was a great success with more than 60 student
posters presented and judged by faculty from the University of Hawaii. The AMA-MSS awarded
winners in the following eight categories:
- Biochemistry/cell biology—Kathryn Mueller, Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Cancer biology—Ryan Weight, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
- Cardiology/vascular biology—Daniel Pietras, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Clinical/epidemiological/health care—Shawn Stevens, Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Immunology/microbiology—Michael W. Milks, Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Neurobiology/neuroscience—Asaff Harel, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- Radiology/imaging—Ben Durkee, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- Surgery—Rami Zanoun, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The overall winner was Michael W. Milks, Ohio State University College of Medicine, for his poster, "IFN-gamma regulates gene expression in liver in a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis." Milks received a trip to the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Meeting in Chicago, June 12–14. Congratulations to these winners and to all who participated for their impressive research.
5) Are you informed about presidential candidates' health care proposals?
As health care reform is shaping up to be one of the most important issues in the 2008
presidential election, a page on the AMA Web site now provides links directly to each declared
candidate's health care proposal. The AMA's 2007 Advocacy Agenda includes efforts to expand
health coverage for the uninsured, reform the Medicare physician payment system, reform the
medical liability system, improve the health of the public, and more. Remember to keep these
issues in mind when you're evaluating the proposals and platforms of the 2008 presidential
candidates.
View 2008 presidential candidates' proposals for health care reform.
View (PDF, 32KB) the AMA's 2007 Advocacy Agenda.
>>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) Office guide focuses on overcoming language barriers
The AMA's second edition of its "Office guide to communicating with limited English proficient
patients" (LEP) offers detailed information and resources that physicians and other health care
professionals can use to provide better care to patients with LEP. The booklet explains how LEP
affects patient care and offers strategies to address the language needs of patients in a
culturally, linguistically and an ethically appropriate manner. It includes commonly asked
questions surrounding the issue of LEP, tips for working effectively with interpreters, and a
chart to explain when to use varying levels of interpretation resources.
Download (PDF, 607KB) a copy or send an e-mail to Jennifer Matiasek if you would like a hard copy for your office.
2) Minority leaders in medicine wanted by Dec. 7
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.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) AMA House of Delegates adopts principles for strengthening the physician-hospital
relationship
The AMA-OMSS adopted and sent to the AMA House of Delegates 12 principles for strengthening the
physician-hospital relationship. These principles were the product of long and intense
negotiations internally within the AMA-OMSS and the association as a whole, with counsel from
the AMA, medical staff and state society attorneys. The AMA House of Delegates approved these
principles as AMA policy without making any changes. This policy provides a framework for
discussion with the American Hospital Association, the Joint Commission and the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, and ultimately signals to the health care community that there is
a critical need to find and build upon common ground between physicians and hospitals.
2) Listen to Joint Commission conference calls on MS.1.20 and new leadership
standards
Did you miss the Joint Commission conference calls on the new leadership standards and Standard
MS.1.20 on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1? If so, you can listen to the conference calls by calling (877)
919–4059. The replay will be available for 60 days. The conference replay password for the
Nov. 1 call on MS.1.20 and new leadership standards is 25460006. The conference replay password
for the Oct. 25 call on new leadership standards is 24759244.
Learn more about these conference calls and access playback instructions.
3) Journal supplement highlights new findings on risks to patient safety and quality of
care
Articles in the November 2007 supplement to The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and
Patient Safety, supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, conclude that
inadequate nurse staffing levels, worker fatigue and poor patient flow are key indicators
contributing to a decreased quality of care provided to patients.
Learn more about and request a copy of this supplement.
4) CMS delays implementation of certain Stark law revisions
For one year until December 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has delayed
certain revisions to the Stark prohibitions against physician self-referral that relate to
direct and indirect compensation arrangements.
This delay mainly affects academic medical centers and not-for-profit integrated health systems.
View the Nov. 19 American Medical News (AMNews) article where the AMA expressed its concern about the increasing complexity of the Stark rules.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) Opportunity to represent the AMA-RFS on AMA councils
The AMA-RFS is currently accepting applications for the following AMA councils:
- AMA Council on Long Range Planning and Development—The AMA Council on Long Range Planning and Development sets the course of the AMA as an organization. It makes recommendations on issues such as membership and finance, and it evaluates other AMA planning activities. This is a three-year position chosen by the Speaker of the AMA House of Delegates. Visit the Web site to apply. Applications are due Feb. 18, 2008.
- AMA Council on Legislation—The AMA Council on Legislation is composed of 10 physicians, one resident physician, one medical student and one member from the AMA Political Action Committee (AMPAC) and the AMA Alliance. The council addresses federal legislation and AMA policies that deal with legislative issues and meets six times per year. This is a one-year position chosen by the AMA Board of Trustees. Visit the Web site to apply. Applications are due Feb. 18, 2008.
2) Looking for leaders in medicine
Resident and fellow physicians are encouraged to apply for the 2008 AMA Foundation Leadership
Awards—a program of the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards. These awards are
presented in collaboration with the AMA sections and special groups, in association with the
Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.
The objectives of the AMA Foundation Leadership Awards program are:
- To reward outstanding, nonclinical leadership skills in community service, education, public health and/or advocacy.
- To encourage involvement in organized medicine.
- To 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 Leadership Awards program and the AMA's National Advocacy Conference from March 30 to April 2, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Applications are due on or before Dec. 7. Visit the Web site for more information or to download an application.
3) In AMNews: Questions to ask before joining a medical practice
An American Medical News (AMNews) article answers a resident's question of what to look
for when seeking a private practice position. According to the article, at least four aspects of
the practice need to be considered: the practice mission statement, the operations and finances
of the practice, and the practice owner's plans for future growth. Read the
article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) Health care insurance more difficult to come by for those over 50
More than 7 million Americans, ages 50 to 64—about 14 percent, did not have health care
insurance in 2005, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute. Employer coverage can be lost
due to early retirement, layoffs or other life changes. Older Americans pay more for coverage,
since they are more likely to have greater exposure to more conditions. Health experts have
agreed that seniors just shy of Medicare eligibility, which begins at age 65, are more likely to
be uninsured if they are not covered by an employer or other group policy. The AMA's policy on
the uninsured advocates for changes to expand health insurance coverage regardless of age or
health status.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) Nominations for Advancement of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine award sought
The Advancement of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine award recognizes a Society for Academic
Emergency Medicine (SAEM) member who has made significant contributions to the advancement of
women in academic emergency medicine. Nominations of both women and men are accepted, and the
award will be presented during the SAEM Annual Meeting. Candidates are evaluated based on their
influence on advancing the individual and collective successes of women in academic emergency
medicine positions. This award is intended to address contributions not addressed by other SAEM
Awards.
Nominations may be submitted by any current SAEM member and should include a copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing his/her qualifications. Each completed application must include the following:
- Nominee's name (first name, middle initial, last name and earned degrees).
- Person nominating award candidate (include mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address).
- Statement on the impact in individual women or groups of women in academic emergency medicine with clear examples and detail (limited to two pages).
- While not required, up to two additional supporting letters (each limited to two pages) may be submitted.
Send an e-mail with nomination submissions. If an electronic signature is not available, please submit the nomination electronically and provide one hard copy to the SAEM headquarters. Completed nominations are due Feb. 15, 2008. Visit the Web site for more information on SAEM.
2) From the Kaiser Family Foundation: An issue brief on Medicaid's role for women
The Kaiser Family Foundation has released an issue brief that describes the wide range of health
services that Medicaid covers for women throughout their life spans, including primary and
preventive care, pregnancy care, reproductive health care, care for chronic conditions and
disabilities, assistance with Medicare costs, and long-term services. Although Medicaid is not
typically considered a women's health program, the majority of adult beneficiaries (69 percent)
are female.
View the issue brief.
Visit the Web site for more information on the AMA's efforts to solve the health coverage crisis for all uninsured patients.>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Young physicians help set new policy at AMA Interim Meeting
During the 2007 AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting, young physicians from across the country
participated in educational programming, networking sessions and caucuses on items of interest
to young physicians. View final actions on
reports and resolutions considered at the AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting. Annotated grids
outlining the section's position on AMA House of Delegate (HOD) items of business as well as
AMA-HOD final actions on each item can also be found by visiting this page.
Two resolutions approved by the AMA-YPS Assembly at the 2007 Annual Meeting regarding federal Drug Enforcement Administration numbers and school bus safety were adopted as amended by the HOD. A third AMA-YPS resolution on medical student loan repayment was included on the reaffirmation consent calendar.
Check out additional policy highlights (PDF, 39KB) from AMA reference committees related to covering the uninsured, antitrust relief, Medicare payment issues and more.
2) AMA bylaws amended to enhance young physician participation
A change in AMA bylaws, 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 consists of two representatives and no alternate
representatives, per 1,000 AMA-YPS members for constituent associations and national medical
specialty societies. This change, which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2008, is applicable only to
the AMA-YPS. Help us spread the word about the new representation formula by letting your young
physician colleagues and your constituent/specialty societies know about this noteworthy change.
3) New AMA Web portal offers free primary care CME programming
The AMA recently launched a new online continuing medical education (CME) portal that offers a
broad range of certified educational programs for primary care physicians on the diagnosis,
management and treatment of depression, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes. Each tract
consists of 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, each program has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1
Credit™—and can be accessed with a few clicks of a mouse. Learn more.
4) In AMA GME e-Letter: More medical students—now what?
Medical schools are answering the calls for growth. The 2007 entering class is the largest in
the nation's history, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. At the same
time, without concomitant growth in the number of residency slots, the overall physician work
force will not increase significantly.
Read more. Other highlights in the November issue of the AMA GME e-Letter, a leading source of news and information on graduate medical education (GME), include the following topics:
- Protecting residents from unexpected loan repayments
- Postponing Medicaid GME payments with a new bill
- Researching work-hour regulations for surgical residents, faculty
- Examining the 360-degree relationship between residents and their teachers and classmates
- Communicating with limited English proficient patients
>>Return to your news interest contents
General AMA news
1) Know your options for participating in Medicare in 2008
With a steep 10.1 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2008, physicians may want to review their Medicare participation options.
The AMA Medicare Participation Options document offers members a brief overview of the current situation with respect to the Medicare payment update for 2008 and the various participation options that are available to physicians. Physicians may sign a PAR agreement and accept Medicare's allowed charge as payment in full for all of their Medicare patients. They may elect to be a non-PAR physician, which permits them to make assignment decisions on a case-by-case basis and to bill patients up to 9.25 percent more than the Medicare payment for unassigned claims. Lastly, they may become a private contracting physician, agreeing to bill all Medicare-eligible patients directly and forego any payments from Medicare for two years. The deadline to make changes in participation status is Dec. 31, 2007. This decision will be binding for the entire year. Those considering a status change should first make sure they are not bound by any contractual arrangements with hospitals, health plans or other entities that require them to be PAR physicians. Laws in some states prohibit physicians from balance billing their patients.
View (PDF, 56KB) the AMA Medicare Participation Options document.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) AMA backs bill to restore medical education loan deferment
The AMA this week voiced its strong support for new legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., that would permanently reinstate medical education loan deferment eligibility during residency.
In a recent letter to the senators, the AMA thanked the senators for their leadership on this important issue and pledged its support to help advance the legislation. Helping medical students, resident physicians and early-career physicians better finance their education and manage their high debt burden is a top legislative priority for the AMA.
"The average medical student today graduates with $139,000 in debt," said AMA Trustee Chris DeRienzo, a fourth-year student at Duke University School of Medicine. "Making it harder for residents to pay back this high debt can deter young physicians from going into primary care medicine or practicing in underserved areas where patients desperately need them."
The new legislation, S. 2303, would permanently restore the medical education loan deferment program, known as the 20/220 pathway, which allows resident physicians to defer payment on their loans for up to three years during their residency training based on economic hardship. The bill also expands the current economic hardship qualifications, which may allow more residents to benefit from loan deferment.
At the urging of the AMA, the U.S. Department of Education temporarily postponed elimination of the 20/220 pathway on Nov. 1. The elimination had been part of the recently-enacted H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Congressional action is needed to permanently restore the program.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign accelerates into December
Amid Broadway theaters and neon lights, the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" television ad, "1 in 7," has been running on a jumbo video screen in New York's Times Square for the past two weeks. That's just one of the new components of the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign to raise public awareness about the 47 million people who go without health care coverage in America and the AMA's plan for health system reform.
In addition, the AMA released the second installment of its "Voices" podcast series that shares actual stories of uninsured patients from the musician community. The second podcast, which features singers/songwriters Eric Lowen—who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—and Dan Navarro, is now available for download. The pair share their experiences of the pressures of living without health insurance. Visit the Web site to download the podcast.
The AMA also recently launched a "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign MySpace page this month to extend the campaign's online reach. This page includes facts about the uninsured, campaign advertising, details about the AMA's proposal to expand health care coverage and much more. Visit the MySpace page and log in to MySpace for ongoing updates.
Next month, watch for full-page ads in Time the week of Dec. 3 and U.S. News & World Report the week of Dec. 10. And all month long, a display of campaign ads will again blanket the Metro Center train station in Washington, D.C.
View (PDF, 195KB) the Time ad that will run the week of Dec. 3.
View (PDF, 287KB) the U.S. News & World Report ad that will run the week of Dec. 10.
View other ads from the campaign.
>>Return to your general news contents
4) Only a few days left to resubmit CAD mammography claims to CIGNA
Physicians may resubmit their previously denied computer-aided digital (CAD) mammography claims to CIGNA. This opportunity to resubmit claims is another victory resulting from the settlements in the national multi-district litigation class action lawsuits against the nation's for-profit health insurers. The Physicians Advocacy Institute used the formal compliance dispute resolution process that was part of the CIGNA Settlement Agreement to require CIGNA to pay these claims. Claims can be resubmitted through Dec. 1. Eligible claims must:
- Involve CPT® Codes 76082 or 76082 as add-on codes with 76090, 76091 or 76092
- Have been submitted between Jan. 1, 2004—when the CAD mammography add-on codes became effective—and Oct. 10, 2004, when CIGNA began paying the claims.
Complete the spreadsheet and e-mail it to Cigna to resubmit your claim. Questions may also be e-mailed to this address. Physicians without access to e-mail can mail their completed spreadsheets to CIGNA R&R Department P&C, P.O. Box 9018, Sherman, TX 75091-9018.
Visit the Web site for more information.
>>Return to your general news contents
5) Worry-free travel for you and your family, available 24/7, worldwide
**Editor's note: An article in the Nov. 15 issue of AMA eVoice reported an incorrect deadline for enrollment in the Assist America benefit. Enrollment for the 2008 service is available until Dec. 31, 2007. We apologize for the error.
Should you or a family member become sick or injured when traveling abroad—or more than 100 miles away from home in the United States—one phone call can connect you to experienced multilingual professionals ready to help, 24 hours a day.
That's because AMA Insurance Agency Inc. has negotiated an exclusive, deeply discounted rate with Assist America, the premier provider of global emergency services. This arrangement is only available from Assist America in recognition of the AMA as the nation's leading medical organization, dedicated to serving the needs of its members. Enrollment for the 2008 service is available until Dec. 31.
Learn more about the program and how to enroll by mail, or call AMA Insurance Agency at (800) 458–5736 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST to enroll using your checking account number.
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6) Deadlines approaching for AMA Foundation award nominations
Less than two weeks remain to nominate a physician or medical student colleague who exemplifies the medical profession's values of altruism, compassion and dedication to patient care for one of the 2008 AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards. The nomination deadline is Dec. 7 for the following honors:
- The Pride in the Profession Awards recognize physicians who work in underserved areas or devote their time to volunteerism or public service. The AMA Foundation honors up to four physicians each year with these awards.
- The Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine recognizes a domestic physician whose work abroad has a positive impact on an international patient population.
- The Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism recognizes the work of a senior physician (55 or older) who provides treatment to U.S. patients who lack access to health care.
In addition, the nomination deadline is Dec. 7 for the AMA Foundation Leadership Awards, which foster leadership development among medical students and physicians who exhibit outstanding leadership in organized medicine, advocacy, community service, public health or education. The AMA Foundation encourages individuals to nominate themselves for AMA Foundation Leadership Awards.
The awards are presented in association with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.
Learn more and download nomination forms.
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7) On Sermo: Turn the tables? Physician interest in profiling health insurers
Health insurers use claim records to produce information intended to describe physicians' cost-efficiency performance, also known as physician profiling. So what about creating a program in which physicians profile health insurers so they have some guidance when signing on with a health insurance plan?
A reader of AMA eVoice created a post on Sermo with this suggestion after seeing an Oct. 25 article encouraging physicians to share their concerns about insurers' profiling programs. Among the answers to the poll on Sermo, 25 percent of physician respondents said all it would take is for someone to set up and fund the program, 24 percent voted the idea is the best and most practical idea they have seen on Sermo and would even be willing to pay a small fee to publicize rankings, and 22 percent said the idea makes more sense than having insurers profile physicians.
The AMA is working to develop and implement standards for payer measures that will be used to profile insurers in the health insurance industry. The AMA has created charts that compare UnitedHealthcare's and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's physician profiling programs with the AMA's principles for pay-for-performance programs. View these charts. Additional charts of insurers' profiling programs are forthcoming. And recently, the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) conducted their own profiling program of health insurers, according to the Star Tribune, ranking nine insurers' pay-for-performance programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services came in on top, while Bridges to Excellence—a program used by large, self-insured employers—ranked at the bottom. Programs by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Ucare, PreferredOne, HealthPartners and Medica ranked somewhere in between. In addition, MMA issued a report, highlighting physicians' concerns with health insurers' profiling programs. If you have concerns about your own profile in a network and want to challenge it, download (PDF, 116 KB) the AMA resource that explains how to do so.
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8) In JAMA: High-trauma fractures in older adults associated with osteoporosis, increased risk of another fracture
Contrary to a widely held assumption, high-trauma non-spine fractures in older women and men, such as those sustained in a vehicle crash, are associated with low bone mineral density and an increased risk of a subsequent fracture, according to a study in the Nov. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). These findings suggest that older adults who experience these fractures should be evaluated for osteoporosis. In an accompanying editorial, an author comments on the study.
Preview the study.
Preview an editorial on this topic.
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