AMA Wire

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

This Week's News

AMA president: Delay of ICD-10 implementation is a win for doctors

In a guest column on physician blog KevinMD.com, AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD, explains that the recently announced delay of the ICD-10 code set demonstrates the power of physicians working together.

The AMA began presenting physicians' concerns about the timing and cost of the new code set to the Obama Administration at the end of 2011. By mid-February, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its intention to re-examine the pace at which ICD-10 is implemented. The agency also communicated its plan to work with physicians to alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens and provide an environment that fosters quality patient care.

"The administration's swift reaction to the AMA's concerns regarding ICD-10 is a powerful example of what can happen when we join together and make our voices heard in Washington," Dr. Carmel writes.