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May 1, 2008
eVoice®
May 1, 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) Report: AAMC urges ban on medical giveaways
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) RSVP for AMA-GLBT caucus
Group practice physician issues
1) In Medical Care: Study finds increase in diagnostic imaging fueled by self-referring physicians
International medical graduate issues
1) Your voice matters; vote in the AMA-IMG Section Governing Council election
2) Register for AMA-IMG Section Annual Meeting activities today
3) AMA-IMG Section resolution deadline fast approaching
4) Help needed to understand work experiences of IMG primary care physicians
Medical school news
1) Last chance to apply for AMA-SMS Governing Council positions
2) June meeting registration deadline is fast approaching
3) You’re invited: AMA Foundation Celebration of Giving reception
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar: 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting deadlines
2) Reserve your hotel room now for the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting
3) Chapter of the Week: Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center
4) AMA Foundation scholarships support students
5) Leadership Award recipients named by AMA Foundation
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
1) Wanted: Physicians for Doctors Back to School event in Chicago
2) Online voting in AMA-MAC Governing Council election just a click away
Organized medical staff issues
1) Book hotel and flight reservations for annual meeting by May 12
2) Register online today for 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting
3) On webcast: Strategies for successful EHR selection and implementation
4) Keys to successful execution of Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20—online session explores how
5) Online economic credentialing workshop details what you need to know
6) What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care?
7) Applications for 2008–2010 AMA-OMSS Governing Council due May 14
8) AMA guide assists physicians in drafting, amending bylaws
9) Resource helps strengthen physician-hospital relationship; print your copy today
Resident and fellow issues
1) Register today for AMA-RFS Annual Assembly Meeting
2) AMA-RFS members: RSVP for AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee Caucus at 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
3) New online resource available on HIPAA security implementation
4) In the Archives of Surgery: U.S. may be facing shortage of general surgeons
Senior physicians issues
1) In JAMA: Medicare Part D
2) In AMNews: Alzheimer’s rates are increasing among minority elderly
Women physician and women's health issues
1) It’s time to choose: Vote in AMA-WPC Governing Council election today
2) Celebrate National Women’s Health Week, May 11–17
Young physician issues
1) Join AMA-YPS in Chicago
2) AMA-YPS gears up for its 2008 governing council elections
3) AMA presents online CME portal
4) Ob-gyns: Tell us what’s on your mind
General AMA news:
1) May 7 is “legacy free” day as important NPI deadline approaches
2) New AMA program helps physicians talk to patients about healthy behavior
3) In the spotlight: Physicians garner success with EHR transition
4) Are your patients getting the right message?
5) In JAMA: Use of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes associated with increased risk of death, heart attack
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Report: AAMC urges ban on medical giveaways
Drug companies spend billions trying to influence doctors—more than they spend on research or consumer advertising. Medical schools that typically have prominent professors and impressionable trainees are key marketing targets. A new report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) says that drug and medical device companies should be banned from offering free food, gifts, travel and ghostwriting services to doctors, staff members and students in medical colleges. The proposed ban is the result of a two-year effort by the AAMC to create guidelines for interactions between the schools and industry. Most medical schools do not have strong conflict of interest policies, according to a report in The New York Times. It is anticipated that the AAMC policy could have a far-reaching impact on policy at medical schools and beyond. The AAMC report maintains that “such forms of industry involvement tend to establish reciprocal relationships that can inject bias, distort decision-making and create the perception among colleagues, students, trainees and the public that practitioners are being ‘bought’ or ‘bribed’ by industry.”
Visit the Web site (PDF, 663KB) for a copy of the report.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) RSVP for AMA-GLBT caucus
One of the charges of the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee is to provide education to our members and all physicians on issues of concern to GLBT physicians, medical students and patients. One of the ways in which this is accomplished is through the advisory committee’s annual caucus.
Each year at its caucus, the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee recruits a physician speaker to address attendees on an issue in which all doctors should be aware when treating their GLBT patients. Past caucuses have focused on such topics as the psychology and biology of sexual orientation, overall GLBT health disparities and particular issues affecting GLBT youth. This year’s caucus, prior to the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, will feature Kathy Oriel, MD, a family medicine physician from Madison, Wis. Dr. Oriel will be presenting “Lesbian health care: What you don’t know is harming them” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
All who attend the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates are welcome to attend the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee Caucus. A large turnout is expected, so please RSVP if you are interested in attending the event.
To RSVP, send an e-mail with your contact information. Room information will be sent to you via e-mail prior to your arrival in Chicago.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) In Medical Care: Study finds increase in diagnostic imaging fueled by self-referring physicians
A growing number of privately insured patients are being referred for imaging scans by physicians who refer patients to their own facilities or machines, according to a new study published in Medical Care. Researcher Jean M. Mitchell, a professor of public policy at Georgetown University, reviewed data collected between 2000 and 2004 by a large private insurer in California and compared that analysis to a report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Both showed increased use of imaging tests for people with private insurance. The findings were published in the May 5 issue of Medical Care.
Under federal law, reimbursements for many self-referral arrangements are not allowed unless the imaging is done in-office. This allowance is for patient convenience. However, the study found that many doctors did not have imaging equipment in their offices. Instead, they leased an imaging center’s facilities and employees for a fixed amount of time per week. An accompanying commentary noted, “Unfortunately the legal system, the method of reimbursing physicians and our lack of tools to monitor appropriateness of testing have led to significant increases in diagnostic imaging, which likely provide little health benefit to patients.”
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) Your voice matters; vote in the AMA-IMG Section Governing Council election
Cast your vote and help choose the newest members of the AMA-IMG Section Governing Council today. The online election is taking place now through May 14. IMG physicians who are AMA members should be on the lookout for a postcard in the mail containing their pass code and voting instructions. Please note that you must be an AMA member to vote in the election.
Vote and help shape the future of medicine for IMGs.
2) Register for AMA-IMG Section Annual Meeting activities today
Mark your calendar and send in your registration form to attend the AMA-IMG Section annual congress, caucus/candidates’ forum, dessert reception and the inaugural Busharat Ahmad, MD, leadership development program. These events will be held June 13–16 during the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Chicago.
3) AMA-IMG Section resolution deadline fast approaching
Make your voice heard on important IMG issues by sending in your AMA-IMG Section resolutions for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates by May 8.
Visit the Web site for guidelines on writing resolutions.
4) Help needed to understand work experiences of IMG primary care physicians
A Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar at the 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, 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. Participants must be primary care physicians to participate.
Contact Peggy Guey-Chi Chen, MD, by e-mail or by phone at (203) 785-2478 if you are willing to take part in this study, 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) Last chance to apply for AMA-SMS Governing Council positions
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) June meeting registration deadline is fast approaching
If you have not already registered for the AMA-SMS Annual Meeting, June 13–15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the deadline is May 12 for meeting registration and hotel reservations. Meeting agenda books will be mailed to attendees at the end of May.
If your schedule does not allow you to attend the meeting but you would still like an agenda book mailed to you, send an e-mail or call (312) 464-4655 by May 12.
Learn more (PDF, 30KB) about the meeting.
3) You’re invited: AMA Foundation Celebration of Giving reception
If you will be attending the June AMA-SMS meeting, you are invited to the AMA Foundation’s Celebration of Giving reception. Each year the AMA Foundation hosts the event to pay tribute to the generosity of its donors and generate awareness in the health care profession of its worthy contributions and programs. The reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on June 13 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The evening will include a raffle with a cash prize, complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music.
Learn more about the AMA Foundation’s programs.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar: 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting deadlines
The 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting, June 12–14, is quickly approaching and so are a number of deadlines.
- Meeting registration is due May 8. Register by this date to ensure that you receive an AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting handbook. Register.
- Governing council position applications are due May 18. Elections for the 2008–2009 AMA-MSS Governing Council will be held at the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting in Chicago. Access (PDF, 79KB) the AMA-MSS governing council position guide and download an application (Word, 67KB).
2) Reserve your hotel room now for the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting
The AMA has reserved a block of rooms for AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting attendees at the Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown at a discounted rate of $189 per night. Rooms are sure to go fast, so make your hotel reservation by May 16. In addition, the AMA has teamed up with United Airlines to offer annual meeting attendees a special discount of 5 percent on airfare.
Are you looking for a roommate to share the cost of a room during the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates? If so, access the annual meeting housing exchange forum which will allow you to communicate with other annual meeting attendees about sharing hotel rooms.
Register for the meeting and learn more about hotel and airfare discounts. We hope to see you in Chicago.
3) Chapter of the Week: Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center
Last fall medical students at Stony Brook University held their first residency fair, with 14 hospitals representing more than 40 different residency programs. Approximately 250 students attended the fair. Residency directors praised the organizers for having one of the best organized fairs they have ever attended. Stony Brook University plans on holding another fair this fall. Contact Varun Kumar by e-mail for more information on this event.
Plan to attend the AMA-MSS medical specialty showcase in Chicago on June 14 during the AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting. More than 45 specialty organizations represented in the AMA House of Delegates will be participating. The purpose of this event is to provide an introduction to specialties represented and to offer materials to assist students in the career decision making process. Visit the Web site for more information on the AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting.
4) AMA Foundation scholarships support students
As the cost of medical education continues to increase, financial assistance for medical students is more important than ever. The AMA Foundation has a long history of supporting young men and women who aspire to become physicians and offers the following scholarship opportunities:
- The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarships—13 $10,000 scholarships are awarded to third-year students who are entering their fourth year of study. Some of the scholarships have additional eligibility criteria, including an interest in medical journalism, psychiatry or the communication of science. Medical schools must nominate students for this award. Nominations are due May 30.
- The Arthur N. Wilson, MD, Scholarship—One $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a medical student who grew up in Southeast Alaska. Students can apply directly to the AMA Foundation for this scholarship. Submissions are due June 16.
- The Scholars Fund—Supported by the fundraising efforts of the AMA Alliance, the Scholars Fund grants money to medical schools to distribute to deserving students of their choice in the amount of $1,000 scholarships or more. The medical school chooses the recipient(s) of this award. Submissions are due July 1.
Learn more about AMA Foundation scholarship opportunities. Contact the AMA Foundation by calling (312) 464-4200 or sending an e-mail with questions.
5) Leadership Award recipients named by AMA Foundation
Last month, the AMA Foundation honored outstanding medical students, residents/fellows, early-career physicians and established physicians from across the country. These leaders display strong nonclinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service, public health or education.
The AMA-MSS congratulates its following members who are AMA Foundation Leadership Award recipients:
- Hans Arora, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- David Braun, Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University
- Brittney Culp, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Amarillo
- Edward Gometz, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
- Jennifer Jenkins, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- Jennifer Kruse, Mayo Medical School
- Jennifer McEntee, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
- Travis Meyer, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
- Joseph Nezgoda, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Edward Sheen, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
- Kevyn To, State University of New York at Syracuse Upstate Medical University College of Medicine
View (PDF, 156KB) a complete list of award recipients and learn more about the award.
>>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) Wanted: Physicians for Doctors Back to School event in Chicago
The AMA-MAC invites all physicians to participate in a Doctors Back to School visit from 8:30 to 10 a.m., May 16 at the Ted Lenart Regional Gifted Center in Chicago. Doctors Back to School is a program that raises awareness of the need for more minority physicians and encourages children from underrepresented minority groups to look at medicine as a career option.
Send an e-mail to Wilda Knox if you would like to take part in this Doctors Back to School visit or for more information on setting up a visit in your community.
2) Online voting in AMA-MAC Governing Council election just a click away
Cast your vote today and help choose the newest members of the AMA-MAC Governing Council. Online election polls are open now through May 14. All AMA-MAC members were sent a postcard with voting instructions and pass code information via mail in order to take part in the election. Please note that AMA membership is required to vote in this election.
Access the election ballot link and view the candidate profiles.
Send an e-mail with questions.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) Book hotel and flight reservations for annual meeting by May 12
Book your hotel and flight reservations now for the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting, June 12–14, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Book your reservations. Make your reservation by the cutoff date of May 12 to ensure your requirements are met. Room availability cannot be guaranteed after this date.
2) Register online today for 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting
The 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting will be held June 12–14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Register online today.
3) On webcast: Strategies for successful EHR selection and implementation
In light of the current national enthusiasm for electronic health records (EHR), the AMA-OMSS created a webcast that will help physicians identify their individual electronic record requirements. This webcast analyzes the strengths and possible pitfalls of current electronic history and physical designs and functionality, as well as offering potential remedies for identified problems. It also provides measures and benchmarks for evaluating a system’s ability to meet medical practice needs for quality care, compliance, usability, efficiency, data integrity and productivity. Finally, it provides a protocol and assesses the realistic manpower needs for the EHR transformation.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
4) Keys to successful execution of Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20—online session explores how
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.
5) Online economic credentialing workshop details what you need to know
Learn how to implement strategies to address the potential implementation of economic credentialing with the newest webcast from the 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 members can view the webcast at no charge.
6) 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 their 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.
7) Applications for 2008–2010 AMA-OMSS Governing Council due May 14
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 a 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.
8) AMA guide assists physicians in drafting, amending 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, 996KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
9) Resource helps strengthen physician-hospital relationship; print your copy today
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) Register today for AMA-RFS Annual Assembly Meeting
The registration deadline for the AMA-RFS Annual Assembly Meeting June 12–14 in Chicago is fast approaching. Join other AMA-RFS members to participate in educational and policymaking sessions and network with physicians from across the country. Important deadlines for the AMA-RFS Annual Assembly Meeting include:
- Pre-registration due May 8
- Hotel special rate reservations due May 12
- Applications for AMA-RFS Governing Council due May 15
Visit the Web site for an application, tentative agenda and additional information on the AMA-RFS Annual Assembly Meeting.
2) AMA-RFS members: RSVP for AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee Caucus at 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
A message from Jennifer Chaffin, AMA-RFS representative to the AMA Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Issues:
“My name is Jennifer Chaffin and I currently serve as the AMA-RFS representative to the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee. One of the committee’s responsibilities is to provide education to our members on issues of concern to GLBT physicians, medical students and patients. One of the ways in which this is accomplished is through the advisory committee’s annual caucus.
“Each year at its caucus, the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee recruits a physician speaker to address attendees on an issue in which all doctors should be aware when treating their GLBT patients. Past caucuses have focused on such topics as the psychology and biology of sexual orientation, overall GLBT health disparities and particular issues affecting GLBT youth. This year’s caucus will feature Kathy Oriel, MD, a family medicine physician from Madison, Wis., who will be presenting ‘Lesbian health care: What you don’t know is harming them’ from 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
“I would encourage members of the AMA-RFS to join me at what is sure to be an informative and enjoyable event (with great food and drinks). The AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee is expecting a large turnout, so if you are interested in attending the event, please RSVP.”
To RSVP, send an e-mail with your contact information. Room information will be sent to you via e-mail prior to your arrival in Chicago.
3) New online resource available on HIPAA security implementation
The AMA developed an educational resource on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security implementation. Compiled from excerpts from the Handbook for HIPAA Security Implementation, this interactive online resource helps physicians and their practice staff understand what HIPAA requires with respect to keeping their patients’ medical information secure. Physicians who electronically submit claims and conduct other transactions named in HIPAA must meet a number of requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency charged with oversight of these requirements, has published a rule that outlines how to meet the requirements in the law, which are separate from the commonly discussed HIPAA privacy requirements.
AMA members can visit the Practice Management Center and the Private Sector Advocacy Web site to access this educational resource, located at the right-hand side bar. If you have questions about this resource, please contact Mari Savickis at (202) 789-7414.
4) In the Archives of Surgery: U.S. may be facing shortage of general surgeons
According to a study in the Archives of Surgery, the overall supply of general surgeons has declined in the past two decades by more than 25 percent. Urban areas have faced a steeper decline. Although rural areas have also faced a decline, there were fewer general surgeons per 100,000 people even before the decrease. “The 25 percent reduction in the relative number of general surgeons in the United States that we report suggests that the United States may be facing a severe shortage of general surgeons,” the authors said. “The U.S. medical system has shown the ability to adjust to changing work force demands by increased use of [international medical graduates] and ‘physician extenders,’” they added. “However, none of these practitioners or phenomena will completely fill the vital role currently filled by the general surgeon in the nation’s health care system.” The authors suggest increased funding of residency positions, exploring and addressing the issues that make general surgery less attractive than other specialties, and exposing general surgical residents to rural surgical practice through rural training tracks and rural-based residencies as ways to address this decline.
View the April Archives of Surgery article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) In JAMA: Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D was originally brought about as a plan to publicly fund and privately sell and administer prescriptive drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006 consumers were able to choose among various plans offered by different insurers, rather than a single-payer system. In an editorial in the April 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), entitled “A successful start with room for improvement,” much appears to ride on the success of this program, and whether a plan can follow it into the future. To date, the fact that average premiums are substantially lower than initial projections provides some evidence that the market is working. Possible models are now being considered for those who are uninsured as well. Two articles in the same issue of JAMA address concerns of the program, including “Cost-related medication nonadherence and spending on basic needs following implementation of Medicare Part D” and “Medicare beneficiaries’ knowledge of Part D prescription drug program benefits and responses to drug costs.”
View the JAMA editorial on Medicare Part D. You subscription to JAMA, which includes 48 weekly issues every year, provides e-mail alerts on material of interest published weekly in JAMA.
2) In AMNews: Alzheimer’s rates are increasing among minority elderly
In an April 28 American Medical News (AMNews) article, researchers foresee the rate of Alzheimer’s disease increasing among minority populations for those 65 years of age and older. It appears that poor and minority populations who are more at risk for hypertension and diabetes are also more likely than whites to encounter this brain disorder. Realizing that change needs to occur, education of primary care physicians is needed to bring about awareness. An approach that covers the reduction of risk factors, including early recognition of the disease, along with aggressive therapy and research is supported by leading experts.
View the AMNews article.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) It’s time to choose: Vote in AMA-WPC Governing Council election today
The AMA-WPC would like to hear from you in the 2008 AMA-WPC Governing Council election. The online election polls are open for voting now through May 14, so cast your vote today. All AMA-WPC members were sent a postcard with voting instructions and pass code information via mail. Please note that AMA membership is required to vote in this election.
View a list of candidates and their profiles, and access the link to the online ballot. Send an e-mail with questions.
2) Celebrate National Women’s Health Week, May 11–17
The ninth annual National Women’s Health Week will be celebrated May 11–17. This nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, aims to empower women across the country to get healthy by taking action to make their health a top priority.
Find out how you can get involved.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Join AMA-YPS in Chicago
Make plans now to attend the 2008 AMA-YPS Annual Assembly Meeting June 12–14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This meeting is the ideal venue for young physicians to make themselves heard and become more active in shaping medicine’s future.
Register for the meeting online.
Read more about the meeting schedule, hotel and travel discounts and meeting service opportunities for AMA-YPS delegates.
Keep the following meeting deadlines in mind:
- Resolutions to AMA-YPS due May 2.
- Pre-registration to be included on the meeting roster due May 12.
- Last day to volunteer for a convention committee is May 12.
2) AMA-YPS gears up for its 2008 governing council elections
View candidates who have submitted applications for the 2008 AMA-YPS Governing Council elections on June 13.
View (Word, 73KB) profiles of candidates for chair-elect, speaker and delegate on the Web site as nomination forms are received.
Nominations will be accepted by fax or e-mail to the AMA-YPS until June 2, but after this date, nominations will only be accepted from the floor at the AMA-YPS Annual Assembly Meeting June 13.
3) AMA presents online CME portal
View online continuing medical education (CME) programs available to AMA members free of charge. The site, launched in March, delivers a variety of multimedia educational programs designed to help physicians apply new knowledge and improve patient outcomes. Webcasts on depression, Parkinson’s disease and Type 2 diabetes are currently available, and future programming will be developed to address educational gaps in primary care.
4) Ob-gyns: Tell us what’s on your mind
The AMA invites you to a Member Connect Roundtable event held for all physicians attending the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 56th Annual Clinical Meeting in New Orleans. Always engaging, these lively forums allow you to:
- Exchange ideas directly with AMA leadership and your peers in a small, interactive setting
- Learn what the AMA is doing to reform Medicare physician payment, medical liability and other issues affecting ob-gyns
- Be heard, get involved, and ask questions and share opinions about the AMA’s agenda, activities and opportunities
The roundtable will be held from noon to 2 p.m. May 6 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Lunch will be served. AMA Members are encouraged to bring nonmember colleagues to this event.
RSVP by sending an e-mail (enter “ACOG Roundtable” as the subject line) or by calling (800) 262-3211.
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General AMA news
1) May 7 is “legacy free” day as important NPI deadline approaches
With the May 23 National Provider Identification (NPI) compliance deadline a little more than three weeks away, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is coordinating a one-day NPI preparation exercise for clearinghouses to help physicians and other health care providers evaluate their NPI readiness.
After May 23 physicians must submit claims to all public and commercial payers using just their NPI number. According to Medicare, however, a very low percentage of claims are being submitted with just an NPI number. Most physician claims are being submitted with both an NPI number and a legacy number.
With that in mind, CMS is requesting that on May 7 several clearinghouses remove any legacy numbers included on physicians’ submitted claims and forward the claims to CMS with just NPI numbers. The purpose of this one-day exercise is to ascertain what percentage of claims can be successfully processed with just an NPI number in hopes of averting significant claims processing problems after May 23.
On May 8 clearinghouses will revert back to sending claims to Medicare that include both NPI and legacy numbers. Physicians who submit claims with just their NPI number likely will not be affected by this exercise.
Physicians who bill Medicare are urged to: 1) ask their clearinghouse if it is participating in this exercise and, if not, request that it do so; and if their clearinghouse participates, 2) ask whether, should their claims be rejected as a result of this exercise, the clearinghouse will automatically resubmit their claims with both their NPI number and legacy number, or whether action is required by the physician.
Many physicians and other health care entities will need more time to prepare for using just their NPI number on claims. The AMA has requested that CMS extend the May 23 deadline by at least six months to allow physicians to submit claims with both their NPI and legacy numbers, if they still need to do so. CMS, however, has not yet extended the deadline.
CMS will field questions about the NPI process during a conference call at 2 p.m. (EST) on May 14. Advance registration is required.
Access (PDF, 14KB) more information about the conference call.
Visit the Web site for more information about the NPI standard.
Also, physicians are strongly encouraged to complete a survey aimed at further assessing the industry’s readiness for handling claims containing only NPI numbers. This survey is an important opportunity for physicians to report on their ability to conduct electronic transactions and be reimbursed successfully using their NPI number. The survey closes May 13.
Access the survey.
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2) New AMA program helps physicians talk to patients about healthy behavior
A recent AMA survey found that two-thirds of patients want their physician to talk to them about good health behaviors. This week, the AMA launched the Healthier Life Steps program—a comprehensive online toolkit, including patient screening checklists, intervention plans and motivational tools—to ignite greater discussion among patients and physicians about healthy lifestyle choices.
“Physicians play a key role in influencing patient health behaviors,” said AMA Trustee Cecil B. Wilson, MD. “Taking the time during a routine office visit to discuss lifestyle choices can make a difference in improving patients’ health and lowering their risk for preventable diseases.”
View and download the Healthier Life Steps program. Physician can download these tools and other components free of charge and obtain continuing medical education credit for this program.
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 educational 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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3) In the spotlight: Physicians garner success with EHR transition
When Paul Buehrens, MD, medical director of Lakeshore Clinic in Kirkland, Wash., was asked why his 17-physician practice transitioned to an electronic health records (EHR) system, his answer was pretty straightforward. “We were simply drowning in paper,” said Dr. Buehrens.
It was at that point, in 2004, that his practice became part of a consortium of eight medical groups that decided to make the transition. In 2005, the practice management system (PMS) went live, and in only a month, the practice was glitch-free with 99 percent accuracy—success that transpired after many EHR implementation site visits and a thorough investigation by an established task force of EHR system vendors.
Dr. Buehrens noted that “refilling a prescription takes about five seconds now,” and “we are able to improve our quality and benchmark against all other practices running the GE Centricity EHR.”
Dr. Buehrens’ practice is the second highlighted in the AMA’s “physician spotlight,” a new online feature that provides an inside look at physicians around the country who are transitioning their practices from paper-based to EHR.
Read more about Dr. Buehrens and how his practice made a successful transition. Send an e-mail to Dr. Buehrens if you have questions or comments regarding his interview.
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4) Are your patients getting the right message?
Many factors, including illness, fear, low literacy and foreign languages and cultures, can make it difficult for staff to communicate with patients.
“Improving communication—improving care,” a new performance measurement toolkit from the AMA Ethical Force Program®, is designed to assist organizations in meeting the needs of a diverse patient population. This one-of-a-kind resource, which can help assess how effectively your organization communicates and targets resources for improvement exactly where they’re needed, includes:
- Surveys and cover letters to gather feedback from a health care organization’s leaders, staff and patients
- A handy user-and-analysis guide
- Templates to help enter and analyze survey results
- Model PowerPoint® presentations and other promotional materials to present survey results to staff and leaders
Visit the Web site and click on “Organizational assessment toolkit” on the right-hand side for more information and to order your toolkit today.
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5) In JAMA: Use of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes associated with increased risk of death, heart attack
An analysis of studies involving the use of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes indicates their use is associated with an increased risk of death and heart attack, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study being released early online and which will appear in print in the May 21 issue of JAMA. In an accompanying editorial, authors write that the timely reporting of all evidence independent of positive or negative findings is not only essential but ethical.
View the study.
View the editorial.
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