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February 21, 2008
eVoice®
Feb. 21, 2008
AMA eVoice is your regular update on the most important health care issues and recent AMA activities.
The AMA is committed to communication. We encourage you to help us spread the word by forwarding AMA eVoice to your colleagues.
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Mayo Clinic and IBM establish medical imaging research center
2) Study in JAMA reviews responses from medical schools to institutional conflicts
Group practice physician issues
1) New York attorney general says he’ll sue Ingenix, others
2) Study of medical information online urges caution
International medical graduate issues
1) In AMNews: Michigan law bars some IMGs from driving
2) Become an IMG leader: Submit your nomination by March 7
Medical school news
1) AMA-SMS Governing Council seeks nominees
2) In the Orlando Sentinel: UCF medical school to start recruiting
3) In the Boston Globe: New emphasis in medical schools on care of seniors
4) In JAMA: Study shows conflict of interest policies at medical schools are deficient
Medical student issues
1) Register for the 2008 AMA National Advocacy Conference
2) Call out for AMA-MSS Annual Meeting resolutions
3) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine’s 20th annual “Harvest classic” race
4) Remaining AMA-MSS regional meetings just one week away
5) Learn more about National Resident Matching Program and National Board of Medical Examiners
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
1) Applications sought for AMA Foundation Minority Scholars Awards
2) In AMNews: Deciding the best way to submit claims
Organized medical staff issues
1) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 Governing Council election
2) View new webcasts on the revised Standard MS.1.20, economic credentialing and the future of health care
3) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
4) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital
relationship” available online
5) AMNews editorial highlights medical staff members help to end problems at California hospital
Resident and fellow issues
1) Don’t miss upcoming deadlines
2) In AMA GME e-Letter: Medical education must be part of health system reform
3) In the New York Times: Medicare won’t pay hospitals for errors
4) In the Washington Post: GAO says number of U.S. primary care physicians has declined since 1995
Senior physicians issues
1) AMA-SPG launches new online message board
2) Jack B. McConnell, MD, Excellence in Medicine awardees announced
Women physician and women's health issues
1) Report: Older women more likely to become, remain depressed
2) In AMNews: Taking another look at hormone therapy
3) Illinois women physicians: You’re invited to ISMS forum event
Young physician issues
1) Register now for AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2
2) Delivering better care to minority patients
3) Latest online CME newsletter focuses on depression
4) February’s AMA GME e-Letter now available
General AMA news:
1) Investigation of health insurers grabs national headlines
2) Ethics in brief: Financial incentives and generic drugs
3) Less than a week left to file claim form for Highmark settlement
4) New program covers language barriers with Hispanic/Latino patients
5) Critical NPI date approaching for Medicare billing
6) On Sermo: Did you change your Medicare participation status for 2008?
7) In JAMA: Patients appear to have lower rate of survival if in-hospital cardiac arrest occurs during night, weekends
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Mayo Clinic and IBM establish medical imaging research center
The Mayo Clinic and IBM have announced plans for a collaborative research facility for advancing medical imaging technologies. The Medical-Imaging Informatics Innovation Center (MI3C), is a continuation of a research collaboration that began in 2007. The process allows medical images to be viewed 50 times quicker, helping provide critical diagnosis, in such areas as tumor growth. The MI3C will be located on the Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester, Minn., allowing clinicians, researchers and vendors to work together in a collaborative environment. Per an article from the Associated Press, third parties will have opportunities in the future to collaborate with IBM and the Mayo Clinic in the facility.
2) Study in JAMA reviews responses from medical schools to institutional conflicts
A study in the Feb. 13 issues of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) provides the first national data on the existence and nature of policies and practices of U.S. medical schools addressing institutional conflicts of interest. A national survey was conducted from 125 accredited allopathic medical schools in the U.S. in 2006 to determine if financial conflicts of interest might be affecting research grants. The results indicate that there were gaps for the academic medical community to address.
View the Feb. 13 JAMA article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) New York attorney general says he’ll sue Ingenix, others
New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo launched an industry-wide investigation into schemes used by health insurers that defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates. Ingenix, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (United) and the nation’s largest provider of health care billing information, is at the core of the reimbursement scheme. Cuomo’s investigation found that Ingenix operates a “defective and manipulated” database that most major health insurers use to establish reimbursement rates. Additionally, the investigation disclosed that two subsidiaries of United dramatically under-reimbursed their members for out-of-network medical expenses by using data provided by Ingenix. Cuomo stated that he issued 16 subpoenas to the nation’s largest health insurers, including Aetna and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and that he intends to file suit against Ingenix and United. AMA President-elect Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, who was present at the news conference, commended Cuomo for protecting consumers and impeding insurers from shortchanging millions of patients by using faulty reimbursement schemes.
Read the AMA’s Feb. 13 statement on the investigation.
View Attorney General Cuomo’s announcement of the investigation.
2) Study of medical information online urges cautione
A study by researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas—both in Houston—found breast cancer information was inaccurate or misleading on 5 percent of 343 Web sites examined. As patients turn to the Internet to supplement their information about medical conditions, they should be cautious, even when sites appear to be reliable. According to the study, sites that focused on alternative or complementary medical approaches were 15 times more likely to contain problematic information. Researchers concluded there is no easy way to distinguish good sites from those that contain flawed or misleading information. Patients should be encouraged to consult with their doctors before acting on information they find on the Internet.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) In AMNews: Michigan law bars some IMGs from driving
A Feb. 18 article in American Medical News (AMNews) pointed to a new state law—intended to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining a driver’s license—that could have prevented some international medical graduates working in Michigan on a visa from getting a new driver’s license. The Michigan State Medical Society successfully spearheaded a grassroots push to get the law amended so that IMGs would not be prevented from driving legally. The amendment passed the Michigan legislature Feb. 14.
View the AMNews article.
2) Become an IMG leader: Submit your nomination by March 7
The AMA-IMG Section Governing Council is seeking candidates to fill one AMA-IMG resident/fellow position and two physician positions for its 2008 election. Nomination applications are due March 7, and candidates will be elected in mid-April by AMA-IMG Section members. All candidates must submit an application, curriculum vitae and high-resolution electronic photo. Endorsements and letters of support from medical associations are optional.
Those interested in the resident/fellow position must apply to the AMA Resident and Fellow Section first. Send an e-mail for instructions on how to apply for the resident/fellow position.
Download (Word, 68KB) a nomination form.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) AMA-SMS Governing Council seeks nominees
Applications are due May 5 for several positions on the 2008–2009 AMA-SMS Governing Council—including chair-elect, three members-at-large, delegate and alternate delegate. Elections will be held at the June AMA-SMS meeting.
Learn more about these leadership positions and download an application form.
2) In the Orlando Sentinel: UCF medical school to start recruiting
The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine recently received preliminary approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to start recruiting students for its first class of 40 students in 2009, according to an article in the Feb. 7 issue of the Orlando Sentinel. The school still needs to receive full accreditation, but the preliminary approval means the UCF College of Medicine can start talking about the program to prospective students, all of whom have been promised a full, four-year scholarship worth $160,000.
View the Orlando Sentinel article.
3) In the Boston Globe: New emphasis in medical schools on care of seniors
The new emphasis on aging is part of a wave of change sweeping medical schools nationwide as they focus on preparing future physicians to treat the growing population of older Americans, according to an article in the Jan. 28 issue of the Boston Globe. Until recently, the vast majority of medical schools had few geriatric programs. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has awarded nearly $60 million to 30 schools to help meet the need for geriatric expertise.
View the Boston Globe article.
Learn more about the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant.
4) In JAMA: Study shows conflict of interest policies at medical schools are deficient
In a 2006 national survey of deans of allopathic medical schools, 38 percent of survey respondents said they had adopted institutional conflict of interest policies applicable to their institutions’ own financial ties, according to an article in the Feb. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Institutional financial conflicts of interest may affect research results. The study provides the first national data on the existence and nature of policies and practices of U.S. medical schools for addressing potential institutional conflicts of interest.
View the JAMA article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Register for the 2008 AMA National Advocacy Conference
Are you coming to Washington, D.C., for the AMA Medical Student/Resident and Fellow Lobby Day? If you are, consider staying for the 2008 AMA National Advocacy Conference (NAC). Hundreds of physicians, medical students and their spouses will gather in the nation’s capital April 1 for NAC, where they will learn about the political climate surrounding the country’s pressing health care issues and prepare to lobby the 110th Congress.
The cost of NAC registration for student members is $50, which includes the Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service dinner.
Learn more and register.
2) Call out for AMA-MSS Annual Meeting resolutions
If you are interested in writing a resolution for the AMA-MSS Annual Meeting in Chicago, it must be posted to the AMA-MSS health policy and news listserv by April 11. Join the listserv.
Review the AMA-MSS resolution writing guide and learn everything you need to know from developing an idea and submitting a resolution, to writing and delivering testimony at the AMA-MSS Annual Meeting.
Contact any member of the AMA-MSS Governing Council, or send an e-mail to Eleonora Teplinsky with questions.
3) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine’s 20th annual “Harvest classic” race
This past fall, students from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine held their 20th annual “Harvest classic” race. Fully 275 participants engaged in race day events, which included a USA Track & Field–certified 10k race (10,000 meters), 5k race (5,000 meters) and kids’ one-mile fun run.
The event was a phenomenal success. The AMA-MSS donation provided over 31,000 meals to families in need. More than 40 Mayo chapter members volunteered, clocking in more than 350 hours of service to prepare for and carry out the race. The Mayo chapter is proud that this event has continued to grow substantially over the years, both in race participants and in donations to Channel One, a news and public affairs content provider to teens. The “Harvest classic” race continues to be the largest community service project of the Mayo student chapter.
Chapter involvement grants (CIGs) are available to AMA-MSS chapters to help put student projects and recruitment events into action. Chapters are eligible for $1,000 per academic year with a maximum of $500 per event. Apply for a CIG if your chapter has a project that it would like to get started.
4) Remaining AMA-MSS regional meetings just one week away
AMA-MSS Regions 2, 5 and 7 have meetings coming up, and you’re invited.
The AMA-MSS Region 2 Meeting, entitled “Perspectives on genetic discrimination,” will be held Feb. 29–March 1 at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa.
The AMA-MSS Region 5 Meeting, entitled “What can purple do for you?” will be held Feb. 29–March 1 at the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, W.Va.
The AMA-MSS Region 7 Meeting, entitled “Becoming a better physician advocate,” will be held March 1 at Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center in Long Island, N.Y.
Visit the Web site for more information on all region meetings.
5) Learn more about National Resident Matching Program and National Board of Medical Examiners
AMA-MSS members are appointed to serve as liaisons to AMA councils and various organizations and groups who work closely with the AMA.
Sandeep Krishnan, a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is the current AMA student liaison to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). NRMP coordinates the residency match process for applicants and residency programs and each year, conducts a match that is designed to optimize the rank-ordered choices of students and program directors. The NRMP Board directs the policies and procedures governing the match process, including defining the structure and timing of the match, setting fees, and developing and communicating participant responsibilities.
Alyce Belonis, a student at Drexel University College of Medicine, is the current AMA student liaison to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). NBME governs the licensing exams taken by all medical students and physicians as well as the subject shelf exams. The NBME Advisory Committee, consisting of academic and medical associations and medical student organizations, is charged with improving communications and enhancing relationships between the medical education community and the NBME in areas of mutual interest. The advisory committee in which the AMA-MSS liaison serves discusses topics pertaining to the licensing of the medical students (i.e., step I and II). The liaison’s role is to represent the position of the AMA-MSS regarding these issues and to keep the AMA-MSS informed of changes involving medical student education.
Learn more about current activities in the NRMP and NBME.
>>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) Applications sought for AMA Foundation Minority Scholars Awards
The AMA Foundation, in collaboration with the AMA-MAC and with support from the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, is currently accepting applications for its Minority Scholars Awards. Interested students should contact their medical school dean—either the Office of the Dean or the Dean’s Designate—to submit nominations to the AMA Foundation for these scholarships.
Learn more about the awards.
2) In AMNews: Deciding the best way to submit claims
A Feb. 18 article in American Medical News (AMNews) examines the often maddening experience of getting a claim paid.
Learn more about how the right technology and knowledge of how your practice works with its claims processor can make the claims process smoother. Links to AMA resources aimed at helping physicians with claims processing problems are also included.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) 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 April 18 to the attention of Kathleen Cole. Send an e-mail to Kathleen Cole or fax to (312) 464-5845 with your application.
Visit the Web site for more information on AMA-OMSS Governing Council leadership opportunities and responsibilities.
2) View new webcasts on the revised Standard MS.1.20, economic credentialing and the future of health care
The AMA-OMSS launched three webcasts that address priority issues for medical staffs. The first webcast 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. The second economic credentialing webcast assists medical staffs in implementing strategies to address the potential execution of economic credentialing, understanding legal issues involving economic credentialing policies and accessing physician/hospital rights and remedies and developing other methods for addressing physician/hospital disputes. The third webcast discusses the fundamental driving forces affecting value in health care; defines value; explores the trends in its component parts: cost, access, quality and security of benefits; and describes future scenarios for health care and the implications for all health care stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
AMA members can view the webcasts at no charge.
3) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and legally binding in most states, it is extremely important that they are well designed and well written. The fourth edition of the “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws” contains practical guidance on bylaws development, model bylaw language, information on emerging issues and recent trends in medical staff 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, 995KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
4) 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.
5) AMNews editorial highlights medical staff members help to end problems at California hospital
An editorial in the Feb. 25 edition of American Medical News (AMNews) addresses how medical staff members help end problems at Community Memorial Hospital in California. Physicians and hospital administrators say their collaboration led to the facility’s settlement over alleged illegal kickbacks.
View the AMNews editorial.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) Don’t miss upcoming deadlines
This is your opportunity to become a leader and represent resident and fellow physicians. The AMA-RFS is seeking applicants for the resident representative position on the AMA International Medical Graduate (IMG) Section Governing Council. This position will be elected by the AMA-IMG Section. Visit the Web site for more information and an application. Applications are due Feb. 26.
The AMA-RFS is also looking to recognize the advocacy and leadership achievement of resident and fellow physicians through the following awards:
- Jordan Fieldman, MD, Award applications due Feb. 29.
- Paul Ambrose Award applications due Feb. 29.
The deadline for these awards is Feb. 29. Visit the Web site for more information and applications.
2) In AMA GME e-Letter: Medical education must be part of health system reform
Health system reform and the problem of the uninsured is a hot topic on the national stage. As we listen to the debates and read the commentaries, we seldom, if ever, see references to funding medical education. Do politicians, pundits, economists, and executives believe health professionals will grow on trees and drop miraculously into a new and reformed health care system?
Read more on this and other issues in graduate medical education (GME) in the February issue of the AMA GME e-Letter.
3) In the New York Times: Medicare won’t pay hospitals for errors
Beginning Oct. 1, Medicare will no longer pay hospitals for preventable medical errors which include catheter-caused urinary tract infections, injuries from falls, and leaving objects in the body after surgery. Furthermore, hospitals will not be able to bill the injured patient for these costs. Medicare has plans to add three more errors to the list next year. Some private insurers are beginning to follow suit by requiring hospitals to absorb the cost of medical errors.
Read the Feb. 18 New York Times article.
4) In the Washington Post: GAO says number of U.S. primary care physicians has declined since 1995
According to the General Accountability Office (GAO), “Fewer American doctors are focusing on primary care, but the decline is being covered by physicians from other countries.” The GAO reported that “the number of international medical graduates training in primary care had grown from 13,025 in 1995 to 15,565 in 2006. With one in four U.S. physicians being international medical graduates, the U.S. is becoming more dependant on these physicians to meet primary care needs.”
Read the Feb. 12 Washington Post article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) AMA-SPG launches new online message board
Share your voice and experiences concerning key issues affecting senior physicians across the country through the AMA-SPG’s online discussion forum. This forum was created so you can share your thoughts on the following important issues:
- Retirement on the horizon?—Thoughtful planning is the key to a happy and successful transition to retirement. Let us know what you have in store, whether it’s part-time work, mentoring, or a unique combination of volunteer and leisure activities. Feel free to post questions if you are seeking special information.
- Grassroots political activity—Have you or your senior group partnered with another organization to advocate on behalf of an issue? Let us know how you’ve made a difference in your community.
- Medicare—Seniors are now offered more choices than ever before for Medicare benefits, whether its choices for prescription drug care coverage or preventive care screenings. With the Medicare issue expected to heat up in the coming months, let us know what’s on your mind.
- Other discussion topics—Please suggest any other topics you would like to set up a discussion forum on.
All AMA seniors are invited to participate in this newly launched online message board. Due to space limitations, only a limited number of participants are available at this time. Please send an e-mail to Alice Reed if you are interested in participating.
2) Jack B. McConnell, MD, Excellence in Medicine awardees announced
The AMA Foundation will honor two senior physicians for volunteerism during the sixth annual Excellence in Medicine Awards dinner in Washington, D.C., on March 31. View information on this year’s honorees, including Frank E. Staggers Sr., MD, from Oakland, Calif., and Viola Startzman, MD, from Wooster, Ohio. Each year, the AMA Foundation, in association with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, honors a select group of physicians, residents, fellows and medical students who represent the highest standards of volunteerism, public service and leadership.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) Report: Older women more likely to become, remain depressed
A report in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry showed that older women are more likely to become depressed and stay depressed than older men. Among the factors that may be attributed to this higher burden of depression among older women are greater susceptibility of depression, more persistent depression and a lower probability of death than older men.
View the Archives of General Psychiatry report.
2) In AMNews: Taking another look at hormone therapy
An article in the Feb. 18 issue of American Medical News (AMNews) examines the use of hormone therapy for recently menopausal women and the Food and Drug Administration’s actions to rein in bioidentical hormone use and claims about compounded formulations.
View the AMNews article.
3) Illinois women physicians: You’re invited to ISMS forum event
The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) invites all Illinois women physicians to attend its Illinois women physicians forum event, “Women in medicine on the front lines caring for the uninsured,” on March 4 at the University Club in Chicago. If you would like to attend, send an e-mail to Karen Clement or call (800) 782-4767, ext. 2423, to R.S.V.P. for the event. You must R.S.V.P. by Feb. 29.
Learn more (PDF, 548KB).
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Register now for AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2
Young physicians are encouraged to join their colleagues in Washington, D.C., on April 1–2 for the AMA National Advocacy Conference. This year’s conference will include a white coat rally on Capitol Hill to send Congress a message about changing its approach to Medicare payments.
Conference participants will gain an insider’s view of the political climate in Washington, D.C., hear from members of Congress on expanding coverage for America’s 47 million uninsured, and learn from experts on how health care will influence the upcoming elections.
Former White House press secretary Tony Snow will deliver the keynote address, and veteran television journalist Forrest Sawyer will serve as master of ceremonies at the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service gala celebration.
Learn more and register.
2) Delivering better care to minority patients
A new AMA Web-based continuing medical education program provides physicians with a broad overview of health disparities among racial and ethnic minority patients as well as strategies to enhance services for these patients—including building trust and addressing language barriers. Physicians who complete this program will learn about the practice of racial and ethnic data collection to improve patient care. Furthermore, physicians will observe how to apply such disparity solution strategies to a specific medical condition, such as cardiovascular disease.
3) Latest online CME newsletter focuses on depression
The latest issue of AMA Therapeutic Insights covers the detection and management of major depressive disorder and offers unprecedented views of prescribing data for this condition. Using a case-study format, the newsletter applies recent findings from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. AMA Therapeutic Insights, a free online quarterly newsletter offering continuing medical education (CME) credit, highlights one disease state per issue and features state and national prescribing data along with evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Access the latest issue as well as archived issues about type 2 diabetes, migraine and dyslipidemia.
4) February’s AMA GME e-Letter now available
Read the AMA’s free monthly e-mail newsletter that covers information of interest to the graduate medical education (GME) community. Articles highlighted in the February issue of the AMA GME e-Letter include:
- Is your Green Book past its freshness date?
- Depression in residents contributes to medical errors
- More (and better) data needed on effects of duty hour limits
- Does having more physicians lead to better health system performance?
- Medical education in the news
Your news interests:
Select news categories that interest you
General AMA news
1) Investigation of health insurers grabs national headlines
"Have health insurers been systematically cheating patients and doctors of fair reimbursement for medical services?" This question opened a Feb. 18 editorial in the New York Times regarding New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation of UnitedHealth Group and a probe of 16 national health insurers into the way reimbursements for out-of-network medical expenses are calculated.
The media buzz comes after a Feb. 13 news conference at which the AMA joined attorney general Cuomo to announce the investigation. The Times described the system as "an invitation for abuse" and noted that "Mr. Cuomo and the American Medical Association, which has a long-standing suit filed against Ingenix and various UnitedHealth companies, claim that the data [are] manipulated."
In its editorial bearing the headline "A ripoff by health insurers?" the Times also called for reforms that would make the system independent and objective. "No consumer can reasonably trust numbers generated by a company whose loyalties and financial interests lie with the health insurers," the editorial states.
Visit the AMA's Web site and the state of New York's Web site to learn more about the investigation.
View the full New York Times editorial (site registration required).
>>Return to your general news contents
2) Ethics in brief: Financial incentives and generic drugs
Pharmaceutical companies are often identified as the industry that most attempts to sway physician prescribing decisions. They are not, however, the only ones making efforts to influence drug choices.
Recently, some health insurers have implemented financial incentives for physicians who switch patients to generic drugs from more expensive brand-name drugs. One method of attempting this is to pay physicians for each patient who makes the change. But is this much different than a pharmaceutical company trying to influence prescribing by offering meals, gifts or other incentives?
Physicians are ethically obligated to place the interests of their patients first. Certainly, prescribing a cheaper, yet still effective, generic medication can serve the patient's interest by lowering costs. A payment to the physician for doing so, however, may cause more harm than good.
View the AMA's question-and-answer document which addresses the legality and ethical propriety of receiving compensation for moving patients from brand-name drugs to generics.
For more information on conflicts of interest in medicine, view the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs Opinion E-8.054.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) Less than a week left to file claim form for Highmark settlement
If you treated a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) patient at any time between May 22, 1999, and May 31, 2007, the AMA encourages you to collect your share of the $10 million Highmark Settlement Fund.
This latest settlement comes in addition to 22 BCBS plans that reached settlements earlier in the class action lawsuit brought by 90,000 physicians. Four of the settling BCBS plans in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and parts of Ohio—including Highmark Inc., Keystone Health Plan West Inc., Highmark West Virginia Inc. (also referred to as Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield), and Parker Benefits Inc. (also referred to as Super Blue Health Maintenance Organization)—have agreed to distribute approximately $10 million among eligible physicians who file a claim form by Feb. 27. Even if you have not treated an enrollee of one of these specific plans, you may still be eligible if you treated one or more enrollees of any BCBS plan that is a primary licensee (including an enrollee through a BCBS plan outside of your state or region).
If you think you may be eligible and have not yet received a notice in the mail, download the mailed notice, claim form and instructions that were mailed to physicians on Nov. 29, 2007. The completed claim form should be postmarked no later than Feb. 27 and sent to: Highmark/Mountain State, Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 3775, Portland, OR 97208-3775.
Download the AMA flier, "7 easy steps to maximizing your recovery from the $10 million Highmark settlement fund." Also, access an interactive settlement map that shows which BCBS plans and subsidiaries in your state have settled and which have not.
**Editor's note: An article in the Feb. 7 issue of AMA eVoice reported the incorrect number of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans added to the Highmark settlement fund. Four additional BCBS plans are part of the latest settlement. We apologize for the error.
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4) New program covers language barriers with Hispanic/Latino patients
The AMA's new online continuing medical education (CME) program addresses strategies to improve communication with Hispanic/Latino patients. Developed in conjunction with the AMA Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc., this free program covers the skills—readily transferable to all patient interactions—needed to effectively communicate with a low-literate, Spanish-speaking population. These skills focus on clarity, cultural humility, and message confirmation, all of which are important to patient care.
Learn more, complete the program and obtain CME credit.
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 education activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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5) Critical NPI date approaching for Medicare billing
Beginning March 1, all Medicare claims must contain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and legacy number, or just an NPI number, for billing, pay-to and rendering physicians. Legacy numbers can still be used to identify referring and ordering physicians through the end of the NPI contingency period, which is May 23.
Physicians who bill Medicare and are being paid for claims submitted with both an NPI and a legacy number are strongly urged to test their ability to get paid using just their NPI. To test this, they should submit one or two claims as soon as possible. This step is critical to ensuring that their claims will be processed without interruption beginning March 1.
If Medicare cannot match a physician's NPI to his or her legacy number in its system, the claim with an NPI only will be rejected. If the claim is processed and the physician is paid, the physician can continue to increase the volume of claims sent with only the NPI. Physicians whose claims are rejected should call their Medicare carrier or the enrollment staff with their Medicare Administrative Contractor for Part A and Part B for advice right away.
Note: If Medicare cannot match a physician's NPI to his or her legacy number, the physician might be required to re-enroll, a process that can take several months. Physicians are urged to act now to avoid claims processing problems on March 1.
After May 23, no legacy numbers will be permitted on any electronic claims, including those to Medicare and commercial payers, pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In addition, no legacy numbers will be permitted on Medicare paper claims after this date.
Visit the Web site for more information about the NPI standard.
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6) On Sermo: Did you change your Medicare participation status for 2008?
In his Feb. 7 AMA eVoice column, AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD, discussed Medicare options for physicians in 2008. Highlighting data from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Dr. Davis explored the reasons behind the current participation and assignment rates in the face of payment cuts or freezes in recent years.
Many physicians on Sermo are discussing the changes they have made with their own participation in the Medicare program and how its payment rates are affecting their ability to care for seniors.
Add your voice to the discussion and to take a poll on this matter. The poll will close on Feb. 23. Check back next week to view full results.
Medicare payment issues will be front and center at the 2008 AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2, in Washington, D.C. As part of the conference, physicians from around the country will rally on Capitol Hill to send Congress a message about changing its approach to Medicare payments. Learn more and register.
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7) In JAMA: Patients appear to have lower rate of survival if in-hospital cardiac arrest occurs during night, weekends
Patients who have an in-hospital cardiac arrest at night or on the weekend have a substantially lower rate of survival to discharge than hospitalized patients who experience a cardiac arrest during day/evening times on weekdays, according to a study in the Feb. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Preview the study.
View the JAMA report on this study.
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