Staff News Writer

Effectively reducing opioid misuse and increasing overdose prevention and treatment efforts are a key part of state and federal advocacy in the coming year. As physicians and policymakers tackle the prescription drug issue head-on, progress is being made on the state and federal levels.

Get the help you need to meet specific core measures of the meaningful use electronic health record (EHR) incentive program with a series of tip sheets. Use the AMA’s tip sheets on some of the more complex Stage 2 core measures.

A recent issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety takes a look at hand hygiene compliance in hospitals.

Physicians can’t meet meaningful use requirements without certified electronic health records (EHR). Medical associations recommended three changes to improve the certification process and make it easier for physicians to use EHRs and care for patients.

As of Jan. 1, the accreditation systems for allopathic and osteopathic graduate medical education (GME) programs are partners, driving forward the implementation of a single accreditation system for all GME programs in the country.

Physicians will face a 2 percent payment penalty in 2017 if they do not successfully report for Medicare’s Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) this year. You can take advantage of a reporting option that can help improve patient outcomes while simultaneously lessening your chances of incurring penalties.

Physicians will see some key issues play out in their home states over the next year. 200 medical association leaders discussed strategy around legislative and regulatory priorities. Four issues came out at the top of the list.