Wednesday, March 6, 2013
This Week's News
Physicians in integrated practices to influence AMA policy through new section
Sequester to cut Medicare physician payment, other health care spending
Insurer's payment practices contested in Supreme Court case; AMA files brief
The JAMA Network goes mobile; new app available free for a limited time
Special Feature
Physicians in integrated practices to influence AMA policy through new section
Physicians in integrated health care delivery groups or systems will have a formal section and voice beginning this year in the House of Delegates, the AMA's principal policy-making body.
Via the new Integrated Physician Practice Section (IPPS), physicians in these practice settings will be able to influence policy and emerging regulations around the integrated practice model.
The section's creation comes at a time when the Affordable Care Act and other factors are accelerating change in health care delivery and creating a strong impetus to foster and expand integrated modes of practice.
The new section is committed to providing a learning environment where physicians from existing physician-led, integrated organizations can network and learn from each other, and share their experience with physician leaders moving toward integration.
Learning and sharing will be a big part of the agenda at the AMA-IPPS inaugural meeting, scheduled for June 14 before the formal start of the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates. The program will include keynote speaker Bruce Hamory, MD, executive vice president and managing partner of Geisinger Consulting Services for Geisinger Health System, followed by a roundtable discussion on advocacy, policy and education needs that will help establish future plans for the IPPS activities.
The afternoon includes an interactive presentation on physician satisfaction by Jay Crosson, MD, AMA's group vice president for Professional Satisfaction, Care Delivery and Payment, as well as a discussion of key policies before the House of Delegates.
The section is managed by a governing council made up of eight physician members who represent a broad spectrum of physician-led large, medium, small, single- or multi-specialty systems/groups and independent practice associations.
"We are grateful to a core group of 35 physician leaders from integrated practices who have committed to serving as founding members of the IPPS and attending the inaugural meeting in June," said Peter Amadio, MD, IPPS governing council chair. "We hope many more will join us and be counted among our founding members."
Physicians interested in becoming an IPPS representative from their organization and serving as founding members can complete the IPPS certification form. For more information, contact Carrie Waller of the AMA via email or at (312) 464-4546.
