Hundreds of physicians, medical students, residents and fellows gathered at the 2017 AMA Interim Meeting in Honolulu to consider a wide array of proposals designed to help fulfill the Association's core mission of promoting medicine and improving public health. These are the top stories from the meeting. Read full coverage at AMA Wire®.
Physicians oppose harmful changes to Medicaid, benefits rules
Delegates stand firm against Medicaid work requirements and changes that would undermine essential health benefits requirements.
AMA: Eliminate burdens for controlled substances’ e-prescribing
Delegates also push for effective opioid-use disorder in jails and prisons and emergency naloxone in public settings.
More Medicaid help sought for Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
The AMA will urge more funding for hurricane-ravaged islands’ Medicaid programs, as well as temporary emergency CMS waivers.
When appearing in media, physicians carry special responsibility
Doctors “must uphold the values” of the medical profession. That means providing accurate information, disclosing conflicts of interest, and more.
Actions taken to protect clerkship spots, address bias
There is an increased need for clerkship spots for U.S. medical students. The AMA will call for greater capacity.
Physicians aim to shine light on why drugs cost so much
The AMA will seek to ban unjustified prescription-drug “price gouging” and let pharmacists tell patients when their co-pay exceeds a drug’s cash price.
Too much time with TV, Twitter a concern for kids
Newly adopted polices aim to address the adverse effects of excess screen time and social media use among children and teens.
Moving medicine forward is a team effort: AMA president
Teamwork among doctors, physician leaders and other organizations is needed to move medicine in the right direction, says AMA President David O. Barbe, MD, MHA.
Beyond chaotic moment, AMA’s CEO foresees innovation’s impact
Making health data more useful will build a better future for patients and physicians, says AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD.
Former acting U.S. surgeon general earns AMA’s top honor
From ground zero of the Ebola crisis to New York’s ground zero, Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH, served with distinction.
Tying HCAHPS to safety-net payment yields unsatisfactory results
The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems and other quality assessments should account for social-risk factors.
