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February 28, 2008
eVoice®
Feb. 28, 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) JAMA sponsors “Author in the room” series
2) Michael J. Fox Foundation offers Response Innovation Awards
Group practice physician issues
1) Cleveland Clinic partners with Google on patient data tools
2) In Medill Reports: Wal-Mart plans expansion of in-store health clinics
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA Foundation honors 14 IMGs with awards
2) Help needed to understand work experiences of IMG physicians
Medical school news
1) Save the date: AMA-SMS June meeting
2) Call for 2008 Annual Meeting resolutions
3) In AMA GME e-Letter: Medical education must be part of health system reform
4) Latest online CME newsletter focuses on depression
Medical student issues
1) AMA offers health policy opportunities for medical students
2) Call out for AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting resolutions
3) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: Rush University holds presidential candidates panel
4) AMA announces exciting media rotation
5) Mark your calendar: American Physician Scientists Association Annual Meeting, April 25–27
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
1) Frank E. Staggers, MD, to be honored by AMA Foundation
2) New initiative aims to engage business sector in improving health care for minorities
3) AMA Foundation Minority Scholars Awards applications due April 15
Organized medical staff issues
1) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 Governing Council election
2) View new webcast on the revised Standard MS.1.20
3) Just launched: Economic credentialing webcast
4) Latest webcast explores future of health care
5) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
6) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship” available online
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA announces exciting media rotation with Discovery Health
2) In the San Francisco Chronicle: New York governor proposes loan payoff reward for doctors
3) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
Senior physicians issues
1) Study: Living to 100 may be more feasible than previously believed
2) AMA-SPG launches new online message board
Women physician and women's health issues
1) Register for National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2
2) 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) Join colleagues for an intense three-day lineup of interactive communications training
3) Deadline approaching for Medicaid tamper-proof prescriptions pads
4) In AMNews: Having trouble submitting claims?
General AMA news:
1) AMA denounces erosion of insurer competition caused by United-Sierra merger
2) In the spotlight: The transition to EHR
3) Critical NPI deadline is March 1
4) New AMA webcasts explore priority issues for medical staff physicians
5) AMA Foundation to honor medicine’s everyday heroes
6) Did you receive a Medicare satisfaction survey?
7) In JAMA: Agents used for treatment of anemia associated with increased risk of blood clots, death in patients with cancer
Your news interests:
Select news categories that interest you
Faculty practice physician issues
1) JAMA sponsors “Author in the room” series
In partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is sponsoring the “Author in the room” series, designed to bring clinical evidence into practice by connecting clinicians to authors of articles published in the journal. The next teleconference features Stephen M. Shortell, author of “Improving patient safety by taking systems seriously,” and is scheduled for March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. CST. Shortell, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, is currently conducting research on the evaluation of quality improvement initiatives and the implementation of evidence-based medicine practices in physician organizations.
Preview Shortell’s commentary.
Sign up in advance for this teleconference. Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, and Donald M. Berwick launched this collaboration in 2007 between IHI and JAMA. Preview Dr. DeAngelis’ editorial on the teleconference series.
2) Michael J. Fox Foundation offers Response Innovation Awards
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has committed $2 million to a second round of funding for Parkinson’s disease in 2008 through its Response Innovation Awards (RIA). RIAs are designed to ensure that researchers are able to pursue their ideas quickly and without delay. Under this program, the foundation accepts proposals on a rolling basis with no deadline, and funding decisions are made within six weeks of application to speed up preclinical or clinical research projects in any arena relevant to Parkinson’s disease. Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit entities, such as universities, colleges, hospitals and laboratories; collaborative efforts are encouraged. The focus of the foundation is to close the gap between research and practical treatments.
Learn more about RIAs.
Learn more about the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) Cleveland Clinic partners with Google on patient data tools
Cleveland Clinic announced plans to collaborate with Google in offering patients online tools in managing their own health information. The partnership has created national access to electronic health care records with no cost to the provider. Per an article in the Cleveland Clinic News, Delos M. “Toby” Cosgrove, MD, president and chief executive officer of Cleveland Clinic, mentions, “As the volume of medical information available to patients increases, it becomes more important for doctors and patients to use this information in a way that empowers the patient to be more collaborative with their care providers.” The new program allows exchanges of patient medical record data such as prescriptions and conditions, as well as providing portability of patient data wherever the patient goes.
2) In Medill Reports: Wal-Mart plans expansion of in-store health clinics
Wal-Mart joins fellow retailers such as Target, CVS and Rite Aid in developing its in-store health clinics. The company plans to open 400 new clinics by the year 2010, beginning in Atlanta, Little Rock, Ark., and Dallas. Since patients know in advance the cost for services, the new system of paying upfront may appeal to Americans who lack adequate health insurance. The AMA expressed concerns that retail services may overlook patients’ more significant health problems in return for quick service, and has urged federal and state regulatory agencies to examine them more closely. Per an article in Medill Reports, Massachusetts has become the first state to develop a set of guidelines for in-store clinics to approve clinic applications and staff credentials.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) AMA Foundation honors 14 IMGs with awards
As part of its Excellence in Medicine Awards, the AMA Foundation recently announced its winners of the Pride in the Profession and Leadership Awards, and the Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine. The AMA-IMG Section and its Leadership Development Committee would like to highlight and congratulate 14 of the winners who are IMGs. A special congratulations goes to Subramaniam Balasubramaniam, MD, of Anaheim, Calif., who won the prestigious Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine.
View (PDF, 24KB) a list of the 14 IMGs who won the awards.
2) Help needed to understand work experiences of IMG physicians
A Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar at Yale University School of Medicine is requesting the participation of international medical graduate physicians in the Connecticut, New Jersey and New York areas who currently work in the fields of general internal medicine, pediatrics or family practice. Participants will be part of a study designed to understand the work experiences of IMG physicians in primary care settings in the U.S. health care system. Participation in the study consists of an in-person interview, lasting 30 to 45 minutes and conducted at a time and place most convenient for you, and completion of a one-page demographic survey. All interviews will be anonymous, with no individually identifiable information, and participants will be free to terminate the interview at any time for any reason.
Contact Peggy Guey-Chi Chen, MD, via e-mail or phone at (203) 785-2478 if you are willing to take part in this study, which has been approved by the Yale University School of Medicine Human Investigation Committee Protocol #0802003505. Please note that this study is not an AMA study and is not endorsed by the AMA.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) Save the date: AMA-SMS June meeting
The next AMA-SMS meeting will be held June 13–15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This meeting will provide medical education colleagues an opportunity to network, help develop AMA policy, discuss issues affecting medical education and elect the next AMA-SMS Governing Council.
On June 13, the AMA-SMS will hold a joint educational session with the AMA Medical Student Section on recommendations from the comprehensive review of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and implications for licensure. The section will also hold a joint educational program with the AMA Councils on Medical Education and Science and Public Health on the state of the faculty, featuring speaker Darrell Kirch, MD, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges. On June 14, the AMA-SMS will present a panel on teaching and teamwork and the impact these have on patient care. An open forum session will include discussion on competencies in geriatric medicine for medical students and mini-presentations on innovations in faculty development.
Visit the Web site for meeting details.
2) Call for 2008 Annual Meeting resolutions
The AMA-SMS Resolutions Subcommittee is seeking ideas and/or actual language for resolutions that address areas of importance to academic physicians. These ideas will be considered at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in June. Resolutions are due April 21.
Send an e-mail to Jackie Drake if you have questions or a proposed resolution.
3) In AMA GME e-Letter: Medical education must be part of health system reform
The problem of the uninsured and health system reform are hot topics on the national stage. Seldom are references to funding medical education included in debates, commentaries and press releases. Any new system of care will need adequate funding for medical education.
Read more on this and other issues in graduate medical education (GME) in the February issue of the AMA GME e-Letter.
Subscribe to the free monthly e-mail newsletter.
4) Latest online CME newsletter focuses on depression
The latest issue of AMA Therapeutic Insights covers the detection and management of a 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.
View the current issue of the newsletter.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) AMA offers health policy opportunities for medical students
The AMA offers assistance to students seeking to increase their involvement and education in national health policy and in national legislative activities of organized medicine. The Government Relations Internship Program (GRIP) is an opportunity for medical student members of the AMA to enhance their medical education through work in health care policy in Washington, D.C. Students must arrange their own six- to eight-week internships (between June and August) in advance. Although the initial deadline is now past, late applications will be accepted through April 15 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all available GRIP spaces are filled.
Visit the Web site for more information.
2) Call out for AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting resolutions
If you are interested in writing a resolution for the AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting in Chicago, it must be posted to the AMA-MSS health policy and news listserv by April 11. Join the listserv.
Feedback will be provided to all who submit resolutions. Final versions of resolutions and the resolution checklist are due April 25. View the checklist, which lists all necessary tasks to submit a resolution.
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 Assembly Meeting.
Visit the Web site to contact any member of the AMA-MSS Governing Council, or send an e-mail to Leonora Teplinsky with questions.
3) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: Rush University holds presidential candidates panel
Medical students at Rush University in Chicago recently held a presidential candidates panel to educate medical students about major presidential candidates’ health plans. A group of students researched each one of the candidate’s health policy platforms and presented these platforms to more than 150 of their fellow students.
Send an e-mail to Mina Sedrak for more information about the event.
Chapter involvement grants (CIGs) are available to AMA-MSS chapters to help put student projects and recruitment events into action. Chapters are eligible for up to $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) AMA announces exciting media rotation
The AMA, in conjunction with Discovery Health, is offering an exciting four-week opportunity to AMA medical student and resident/fellow members. As part of the AMA/Discovery Health internship, one AMA medical student and one AMA resident/fellow will work to develop a medical education program that will air on the Discovery Health Channel. This exciting opportunity gives the student and resident/fellow hands-on experience in the translation of rigorous scientific data into an entertaining and informational program. The student and resident/fellow will work primarily at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., but will also travel to relevant on-site and studio shoots for the program. A stipend of $3,000 will be provided to cover living expenses. While summer dates are strongly preferred, dates and length of the rotation are flexible. Applications are due April 17.
Learn more (PDF, 155kB) and apply.
Learn more about other AMA-MSS opportunities.
5) Mark your calendar: American Physician Scientists Association Annual Meeting, April 25–27
The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) invites medical students to attend its fourth annual meeting, April 25–27, at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. The meeting will provide a unique opportunity for research-oriented medical students to interact with their peers and leading physician-scientists from across the world. Renowned speakers include National Institutes of Health directors, National Academy of Science members, National Institutes of Medicine members and leaders from industry and public/global health. Activities include workshops on career development issues, a residency director luncheon, panel discussions with residents and fellows and mentorship breakfasts.
Learn more and register.
>>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) Frank E. Staggers, MD, to be honored by AMA Foundation
Retired urologist Frank E. Staggers, MD, is the recipient of the 2008 Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. This award recognizes the work of senior physicians who provide treatment to U.S. patients lacking access to health care. Dr. Staggers is a founding member of the AMA’s Advisory Committee on Minority Physicians and was nominated by members of the AMA-MAC for the award.
2) New initiative aims to engage business sector in improving health care for minorities
The National Business Group on Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health have announced a new two-year effort to strengthen ongoing partnerships and build new business-community coalitions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities and improve the quality of health care for minority populations. The new partnership aims to facilitate alliances between business, medicine and public health organizations to improve the quality of health care for racial and ethnic minority populations and promote beneficiary health and employee productivity.
Learn more about this partnership.
Learn more about what the AMA is doing to end health care disparities.
3) AMA Foundation Minority Scholars Awards applications due April 15
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.
>>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 May 14 to the attention of Kathleen Cole. Send an e-mail to Kathleen Cole or fax to (312) 464-5845 with your application in order to be included in the online version of the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting handbook. The online handbook will be available May 22; hard copies will be passed out at the meeting.
Visit the Web site for more information on AMA-OMSS Governing Council leadership opportunities and responsibilities.
2) View new webcast on the revised Standard MS.1.20
The AMA-OMSS launched a new webcast on revised Standard MS.1.20 that addresses how medical staffs can successfully implement the revised Joint Commission Medical Staff Bylaws Standard MS.1.20—and provides an overview of the recently adopted revisions. Compliance with this standard by July 2009 is critical to preserving medical staff self-governance.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
3) Just launched: Economic credentialing webcast
Learn how to implement strategies to address the potential implementation of economic credentialing with the newest webcast from AMA-OMSS. In addition, this webcast assists medical staffs in understanding legal issues involving economic credentialing policies and accessing physician/hospital rights and remedies and developing other methods for addressing physician/hospital disputes.
AMA member can view the webcast at no charge.
4) Latest webcast explores future of health care
What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care? A new webcast—launched by the AMA-OMSS—discusses and defines this question by exploring trends in its component parts (cost, access, quality and security of benefits) and describes future scenarios for health care, examining the implications for all health care stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
5) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and are legally binding in most states, it is extremely important that they are well designed and well written. The fourth edition of the “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws” contains practical guidance on bylaws development, model bylaw language, information on emerging issues and recent trends in medical staff re-engineering. The guide will be especially helpful to medical staffs as they update their bylaws to align with the revised Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20.
AMA members can view (PDF, 995 KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
6) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship” available online
A printable version of the “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship,” developed by the AMA-OMSS and adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, is now available online.
View (PDF, 90KB) and download this resource. These principles are designed to improve the working relationship between physicians and hospitals, and ultimately foster better patient care and increase patient safety.
Send an e-mail to order a poster of the principles to post in your medical staff lounge.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA announces exciting media rotation with Discovery Health
The AMA, in conjunction with Discovery Health, is offering an exclusive four- to six-week elective rotation for AMA medical student and resident/fellow members. During the rotation, one AMA medical student and one AMA resident/fellow will each work to develop a medical education program that will air on the Discovery Health Channel. This exciting opportunity gives the student and resident/fellow hands-on experience in the translation of rigorous scientific data into an entertaining and informational program.
Visit the Web site for more information and an application. The deadline for applications is April 17.
2) In the San Francisco Chronicle: New York governor proposes loan payoff reward for doctors
Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced as part of his executive budget an initiative to pay off student loans for doctors as a reward for working in underserved areas of New York. At least 45 states have loan repayment programs in varying amounts for doctors who practice in underserved and rural areas, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some of those are completely federally funded, while others use state and private contributions. Spitzer’s plan could bring the relief that rural and inner-city hospitals need. More than 35 million Americans live in underserved areas, and it would take 16,000 doctors to immediately fill that need, the AMA said.
Read the Feb. 24 article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
3) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
The University of California, Los Angeles, has piloted a program that prepares international medical graduates (IMGs) who speak English and Spanish for family medicine residency. The three-step course will coach IMGs through the multi-step U.S. Medical Licensing Exam and give clinical observerships. AMA Board of Trustees Chair Edward L. Langston, MD, said there is a large need for U.S. clinical experience among IMGs seeking residencies. The AMA-IMG Section also hopes to create more clinical observership options for IMGs and is developing guidelines with hopes that interested state medical societies will set up observerships. If program participants obtain a residency position, they are required to practice in an underserved California community for three years afterwards. The goal of the program is to address health care disparities by getting more bilingual doctors into California’s underserved Hispanic areas.
Read the March 3 American Medical News (AMNews) article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) Study: Living to 100 may be more feasible than previously believed
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine sought to determine the absence or presence of disability among centenarian survivors. The study found that “survivors” or individuals who developed a specific age-related disease before 85, had a good chance of living to 100. Researchers noted that “survivors demonstrate unusual adaptive capacity and functional reserve to better cope with their health challenges and to maintain their independence well into their tenth decade of life.” And, while women are far more likely to reach 100 than men, male centenarians function significantly better physically and mentally than female centenarians. Researchers concluded that “male centenarians are less able to cope with morbidity than female centenarians, and thus, only the most robust men are able to survive to extreme old age.”
Preview the article, “Disentangling the roles of disability and morbidity in survival to exceptional old age.”
2) AMA-SPG launches new online message board
Share your 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.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) Register for National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2
Join hundreds of physicians and medical students on April 1–2 in Washington, D.C., 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. On March 31, attend the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards dinner. Physicians’ spouses and families are invited to attend the AMA Alliance Capitol Conference—Winter Session.
Learn more and register.
2) 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, 584KB).
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Register now for AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2
Make plans now to join your colleagues April 1–2 in Washington, D.C. for the AMA National Advocacy Conference. Don your white coat and participate in a rally on Capitol Hill to send Congress a message about changing its approach to Medicare payments.
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) Join colleagues for an intense three-day lineup of interactive communications training
Young physicians interested in improving their message delivery should consider attending the 28th Annual AMA Medical Communications Conference, April 16–18, in San Diego. Learn from top-level medical communicators, journalists and other experts about how to identify and define the perspective of news media, deliver medical and health care news more effectively and evaluate the efficacy of emerging technologies as vehicles for disseminating information. With more than 30 workshops to choose from, the conference offers sessions on “Improving your on-air persona,” “Speeches that wow,” “Advanced media training” and “Podcasting: The next generation.” Participants will get hands-on experience, including practice on-camera and compelling discussions among peers and panel experts. Register by March 21 for a discounted rate—AMA members get an additional discount.
Visit the Web site to register.
3) Deadline approaching for Medicaid tamper-proof prescriptions pads
Many of you are aware Congress passed a law last year requiring the use of tamper-resistant prescription pads for most Medicaid prescriptions (there are exceptions for Medicaid-managed care and institutionalized patients). Advocacy by the AMA and others achieved a six-month delay in the implementation deadline, now set for April 1. Orders may take up to four weeks to process, so physicians who have not yet ordered tamper-resistant pads should do so now so they have them in hand by April 1.
4) In AMNews: Having trouble submitting claims?
Would you agree that getting a claim paid can be a frustrating experience? According to an article in the Feb. 18 issue of American Medical News (AMNews), “making it smoother takes the right technology, but also requires monitoring how your practice works with its claim processor and health plans.”
Read the article and learn more about steps you can take to move your practice toward more effective medical claims processing.
Additional AMA resources can help you address claims processing problems. View (PDF, 999KB) and download “Prepare that claim: Taking an active approach to the management revenue cycle,” covering preparation, submission and collection of a claim. View (PDF, 1.63MB) and download “Appeal that claim: Taking an active approach to the claims management process,” covering claims auditing and review as well as how to prepare an appeal.
>>Return to your news interest contents
General AMA news
1) AMA denounces erosion of insurer competition caused by United-Sierra merger
A Justice Department decision that allows UnitedHealth Group to proceed with its takeover of Sierra Health Services Inc., the largest health insurer in the Las Vegas area, drew a strong response from the AMA.
For nearly a year, the AMA, the Nevada State Medical Association and the Clark County Medical Society have repeatedly urged the Justice Department and the Nevada attorney general’s office to file a lawsuit that would block the buyout. The Justice Department announced earlier this week that the merger could move forward if United divested assets related to Medicare Advantage business in the Las Vegas area.
The AMA called the Justice Department’s decision to approve the buyout “a step backward,” one that will do nothing to block United from gaining a stranglehold on the Las Vegas commercial insurance market and consolidating unprecedented market power in southern Nevada.
“This acquisition is one more example of a health insurer mega-merger that will benefit no one other than health insurer executives and stockholders,” AMA Immediate Past President William G. Plested III, MD, said. “While the Department of Justice did attempt to protect seniors from having to cope with a monopoly, it left several hundred thousand people vulnerable to a health insurer with a clear track record of placing profits over patient care, insensitivity to local health care needs and a selective sense of accountability to state regulators.”
The AMA also noted that the Justice Department’s decision is inconsistent with past regulatory action involving another United mega-merger. In 2005, the Justice Department cited the negative effects of consolidated market power when it required United to execute a significant divestiture before its takeover of PacifiCare.
View Dr. Plested’s full statement.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) In the spotlight: The transition to EHR
How are physicians implementing health information technology (HIT) in their practices? And looking back at the process, what would some have done differently?
These and other questions are explored in “Physician Spotlight,” the AMA’s new online feature that provides detailed interviews with physicians who are transitioning their practices from paper-based to electronic health records (EHR).
Aegis Women’s Healthcare, a small five-physician practice in Bloomington, Ind., made its transition to an EHR system more than a year-and-a-half ago. Robert Wrenn, MD, discussed some of the reasons why the practice transitioned.
“We wanted to integrate our clinical and business processes, beginning with the billing phase about 18 months ago and the clinical phase about nine months ago,” said Dr. Wrenn. “Our motivations, we thought, were fairly simple. We wanted to create legible records, to increase the accessibility of the records and to replace our billing service.”
Read more about Dr. Wrenn and his practice. Send an e-mail to Dr. Wrenn if you have questions or comments regarding his interview.
Check back in a few months to learn more about what other physician practices are doing with HIT, how they are doing it, what they would do differently and their plans for these new tools.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) Critical NPI deadline is March 1
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.
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.
Visit the Web site for more information about the NPI standard.
>>Return to your general news contents
4) New AMA webcasts explore priority issues for medical staff physicians
All AMA members are invited to view a new series of webcasts which covers a variety of topics of interest to medical staff physicians. Topics include:
- “Implementation of the new Joint Commission Bylaws Standard MS.1.20”
- “The future of health care: The quest for value for all Americans”
- “Economic credentialing: What medical staff leaders need to know”
Each webcast includes streaming video and audio of featured experts’ remarks accompanied by slide presentations on each topic. The first webcast informs physician leaders who are engaged in hospital practice how to 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 webcast discusses and defines the fundamental driving forces affecting value in health care by exploring trends in its component parts (cost, access, quality and security of benefits). It describes future scenarios for health care, examining implications for all stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
The third webcast provides strategies to address the potential implementation of economic credentialing. Learn more about legal issues involving economic credentialing policies and how to access physician/hospital rights and remedies and develop other methods for addressing physician/hospital disputes.
AMA members can view the webcasts at no charge.
>>Return to your general news contents
5) AMA Foundation to honor medicine’s everyday heroes
Join the AMA Foundation for its 2008 Excellence in Medicine Awards dinner to spotlight the men and women who exemplify the highest values of altruism, compassion, leadership and dedication to patient care.
In association with the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards will honor the medical profession’s unsung heroes and emerging leaders. This year’s recipients include:
- Pride in the Profession Awards—Joyce D. Kirkland Essien, MD, Atlanta, Ga.; Murli Manohar, MD, Canton, Ohio; G. Scott Morris, MD, Memphis, Tenn.
- Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine—Subramaniam Balasubramaniam, MD, Anaheim, Calif.
- Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism—Frank E. Staggers, MD, Oakland, Calif.; Viola Startzman, MD, Wooster, Ohio
- Leadership Awards—Fully 56 outstanding medical students and doctors will be recognized for their leadership skills in advocacy, community service or education.
The awards dinner will be held on March 31, on the eve of the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. Visit the Web site or contact the AMA Foundation at (312) 464-4200 to purchase a ticket or table sponsorship, or to learn more about award recipients. If you would like to attend the dinner, R.S.V.P. by March 14.
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6) Did you receive a Medicare satisfaction survey?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched its second Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS), an effort aimed at measuring physicians' and other providers' satisfaction with Medicare fee-for-service contractors. CMS has randomly selected a combined 35,000 physicians and providers to complete the survey. The survey’s focus is on physician communications, inquiries to contractors, claims processing, appeals, enrollment, medical review, and audit and reimbursement. The results will be used to improve Medicare contractor operations.
If you were one of the physicians selected to participate in the MCPSS, you should have received a survey notification packet by the end of February. Physicians may respond to the survey by submitting their responses via a secure Web site, mail, fax or over the telephone. Please take the time to complete the survey if you have not already done so.
Visit the Web site for additional information about the MCPSS and to view results from the 2007 survey.
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7) In JAMA: Agents used for treatment of anemia associated with increased risk of blood clots, death in patients with cancer
Treating anemia with a class of drugs known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or in the lungs) and death among patients with cancer, according to an article in the Feb. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Preview a review on this study.
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