Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012
This Week's News
AMA online resource center offers variety of assistance for employed physicians
New standard aims to cut expense, time spent on claims payments
International conference shines light on issues in physician health
AMA president: Work with insurers, resources help ease physician burden
This Week's News
AMA president: Work with insurers, resources help ease physician burden
AMA initiatives are helping reduce the prohibitive administrative burden placed on physicians, AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, writes in a guest column on physician blog KevinMD.com.
Through efforts surrounding the AMA's National Health Insurer Report Card, physicians were saved countless hours of unnecessary paperwork this year as private insurers cut the percentage of claims they paid incorrectly in half. The AMA now is focusing on streamlining preauthorization requirements and has called on insurers to replace manual steps with an automated decision support system that will enhance patient care and reduce paperwork costs.
"While there is good reason to celebrate the meaningful progress in reducing [the] administrative burden for physicians," Dr. Lazarus writes, "the AMA will continue its commitment to advocate against managed care abuses and provide expert resources to help physicians evaluate, negotiate and manage their agreements with health plans."
The AMA Practice Management Center offers some of the most widely used resources, including nuts-and-bolts guidance for physicians involved in negotiating payment options and contracts. Additionally, the National Managed Care Contract and a supporting database form the most comprehensive managed care contracting resource available to physicians.
