AMA initiatives work to secure coverage and payment for digital health solutions including supporting the development of appropriate CPT® codes to support clinical integration, appropriate valuation and expanded commercial and federal health program coverage.
Identifying payment issues and solutions
The Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG) is an AMA initiative bringing together a diverse cross-section of 15 nationally recognized experts to identify issues and advise on comprehensive solutions for coding, payment and coverage.
Accurately describing digital resources
The AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) describes the resources required to provide physician services—an essential step to receiving payment in the digital landscape.
Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes all final decisions about what Medicare payments will be, CMS considers RUC recommendations in developing Relative Value Units (RVU).
Creating telemedicine policies
As telemedicine is used to improve access to care, care coordination and quality, physicians must follow policies (PDF) to utilize this digital innovation and receive payment (PDF) for their services.
The AMA Advocacy Resource Center provides materials for physician advocates focused on state telemedicine issues including physician licensure (PDF), private insurance payment policies (PDF) and establishment of the patient-physician relationship (PDF) via telemedicine.
Telemedicine adoption resources for physicians
- Steps Forward telemedicine module
- AMA/HIMSS podcast on telemedicine
- Telehealth article in New England Journal of Medicine
- HHS on health information technology
Expediting medical licensure
National telemedicine advocacy campaigns
- FDASIA health IT report (PDF)
- Statement to U.S. House of Representatives on telemedicine (PDF)
- Statement to U.S. House of Representatives on benefits of technology for patients (PDF)
For additional information, including the model AMA Telemedicine Act (PDF), contact Kim Horvath, JD, senior legislative attorney at [email protected].
