Staff News Writer

AMA Affiliated Groups

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Written by members of the AMA Physician Communications team.

Medicare & Medicaid

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2 Min Read

New report calls for Medicaid pay parity beyond 2014

A policy adopted Monday outlined in a report by the AMA Council on Medical Service directs the AMA to continue its efforts to extend a Medicaid payment increase that has been in effect since 2013 so low-income patients continue to have access to essential primary care services to stay healthy.

Physician Health

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2 Min Read

Initiative minimizes barriers to providing high-quality care

Now that studies have made the reasons behind physicians’ professional satisfaction clear, it’s time to implement solutions that let physicians get back to doing what they want to do most—give high-quality care to patients.

AMA Policies

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2 Min Read

From Ebola to e-cigarettes, delegates pass public health policy

Delegates at the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting in Dallas this week weighed in on a number of timely public health issues which included regulatory oversight of electronic cigarettes and the important role of pharmacists in vaccinating target populations.

Access to Care

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3 Min Read

New policy calls for adequate networks for patient access, choice

As open enrollment for health insurance exchanges begins, physicians have adopted new policy aimed at addressing inadequate provider networks so patients have access to the care they need and the physicians they rely on.

Ethics

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2 Min Read

Doctors debate care continuity, competence at ethics forum

Physicians had the chance to share their opinions on continuity of care in complex health care systems and the ethical obligation to provide competent care during an open forum of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA).

Ethics

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2 Min Read

Physicians vote to exercise conscience in medical care

Physicians voted in favor of new policies during the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting in Dallas, focusing on physicians’ exercise of conscience and physician civil discourse. Also adopted was policy outlined in a report by the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs on physicians’ exercise of conscience.

AMA PRA Credit System

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2 Min Read

AMA adopts principles for maintenance of certification

Physicians voted to update the AMA’s policy on maintenance of certification (MOC) during the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting in Dallas. The adopted policy outlines principles that emphasize the need for an evidence-based process that is evaluated regularly to ensure physician needs are being met and activities are relevant to clinical practice.

Medicare & Medicaid

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3 Min Read

Delegates ask for suspension of meaningful use penalties

At the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting, delegates renewed their request that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspend penalties for failure to meet meaningful use criteria. The new policy comes on the heels of the recent release of new attestation numbers showing only 2 percent of physicians have demonstrated Stage 2 meaningful use so far this year.