Staff News Writer

AMA Affiliated Groups

News Writer,
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Written by members of the AMA Physician Communications team.

CPT® Editorial Panel

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2 Min Read

Video: How payment codes help improve hospital readmission rates

Updating code sets so physicians can be paid for new models of care could be a “game-changer” in improving hospital readmission rates, according to one physician at the forefront of these changes.David Ellington, MD, a family physician from Virginia and a member of the CPT® Editorial Panel, explains the process behind code development and how the panel is facilitating innovations in medicine.

Population Health

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1 Min Read

LGBT patients more likely to be uninsured, lack personal doctor

Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) are more likely to report that they lack health insurance, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Prevention & Wellness

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1 Min Read

Risks of tubing misconnections singled out in new alert

The Joint Commission has issued a new Sentinel Event Alert, “Managing risk during transition to new ISO tubing connector standards,” which addresses the risks of accidental medical tubing misconnections that can cause severe patient injury or death.

Leadership

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6 Min Read

Why I serve: A profile of AMA leaders in medical education

This regular feature appeared in the September 2014 AMA MedEd Update, a monthly medical education newsletter. It profiles a leader in medical education and the AMA. This profile looks at Kenneth B. Simons, MD, Senior associate dean for graduate medical education and accreditation, Medical College of Wisconsin.

Medicare & Medicaid

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4 Min Read

Physicians call for changes to Medicare payment policy proposals

New proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would impact many aspects of physician payment and federal regulatory programs, but many of these changes are not for the better. In a letter sent last week, the AMA urged the agency to make revisions to avoid negative effects on physicians and patients.

CPT®

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3 Min Read

Don't delay needed code updates, physicians tell CMS

A new timeline the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to implement for reviewing new, revised and potentially misvalued services could significantly slow the timeframe for implementing important CPT® code updates and changes to the values of physician services.

ChangeMedEd Initiative

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2 Min Read

Video: How to manage and embrace the future of medicine

From his unique position to learn about groundbreaking research, Dr. Bauchner walks physicians through what’s to come in the future—and how to manage changes in preparing for that care in an AMA “Innovations in Medicine” talk.

Prevention & Wellness

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2 Min Read

Southwest Florida takes on diabetes prevention

At-risk seniors in a Florida community are getting some extra help with preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes. About half of all U.S. adults aged 65 years or older have prediabetes, the precursor to diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).