AMA in the News: May 2025

AMA in the News covers media coverage and mentions about the American Medical Association. Find articles recognizing our efforts in health care, advocacy, medical education and improvements in public health. Read coverage on the achievements of our leadership and the members of the AMA community.

1. AMA: Physicians continue to move away from private practices

   1. Healthcare Innovation, May 30, 2025
   2. On May 29, the American Medical Association (AMA) published the findings of its latest research (PDF) on physician practice characteristics in 2024. “Physicians reported that inadequate payment rates, costly resources, and burdensome regulatory and administrative requirements are longstanding and important drivers of this change,” according to a press release by the AMA.

2. Dr. Bobby Mukkamala to lead American Medical Association after brain surgery

   1. Mid Michigan Now, May 30, 2025
   2. Bobby Mukkamala, MD, a Flint-based head and neck surgeon, is set to become the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) next month, just six months after undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor.

3. AMA: Physician private practice ‘unraveling’ due to low payment, high costs, administrative burdens

   1. Medical Economics, May 29, 2025
   2. The share of doctors working in practices wholly owned by physicians is unraveling under compounding pressures,” AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD, said in an accompanying news release. “The cumulative impact of burdensome regulations, rising financial strain, and relentless cuts in payment poses a dire threat to the sustainability of private practices.

4. The state of physician practices in 5 charts

   1. Modern Healthcare, May 29, 2025
   2. An analysis by the American Medical Association found the percentage of physicians in a practice wholly owned by physicians last year to be at the lowest level since the survey began in 2012. The AMA examined data from its biennial Physician Practice Benchmark Survey, most recently conducted in 2024. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

5. How artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping medicine

   1. Tech Times, May 28, 2025
   2. According to a study conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2024, two out of three doctors use artificial intelligence in their clinical workflows.

6. States take the reins on insurance reform

   1. Politico, May 28, 2025
   2. In 2024, at least 10 states passed laws to reform the prior authorization process, according to a report from the American Medical Association. Insurers use prior authorization to control costs. 

7. 10 federal updates for ASC leaders to know in May

   1. Beckers ASC, May 27, 2025
   2. If the budget proposal is enacted, physicians would see their annual Medicare payments rise 4.3% by 2035, according to a report published by the American Medical Association. (Free registration is required to view content.)

8. A Chicago Physician's Parting Wisdom (PDF)

   1. Chicago Medicine, May 27, 2025
   2. Though most physicians and healthcare executives have known James Madara, MD, in his role as the top executive of the American Medical Association (AMA), he has loomed large on the national healthcare scene from his base in Chicago's health care community for more than three decades.(Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

9. Why one leader is calling out insurers’ inaction on prior authorization

   1. Med City News, May 26, 2025
   2. Despite consensus-building and public pressure, there has been little meaningful change in insurers’ practices, particularly outside CMS oversight. The AMA is urging Congress to intervene to address broader commercial plan abuses not covered by CMS reforms.

10. What’s going on with prior authorization?

    1. Becker’s ASC, May 23, 2025
    2. More than 60% of physicians said they feared that payers’ use of unregulated AI was creating more prior authorization denials, according to a survey from the American Medical Association. (Free registration is required to view content.)

11. Dr. Bruce Scott urges caution around AI in healthcare

    1. KGTV, May 23, 2025
    2. I spoke with Bruce Scott, MD, from the AMA, who says AI should be a tool, not a replacement for traditional in-person health care: “We need to make sure that physicians are involved in their early development and in the implementation to make sure it actually works within the clinical environment, whether it's the hospital environment or it's our office or the operating room or the clinic that we work." 

12. AMA Leaders: Advocacy, action, and the quiet power of democracy

    1. MedPage Today, May 15, 2025
    2. We must reject voices that oversimplify the AMA's position and advocacy on a host of single issues versus the plurality of challenges before us. Professional associations like the AMA are stewards of both ideals and realities. Fighting for Medicare payment reform, relief from administrative burdens, and advocating for resources and policies that address chronic disease and promote public health can be achieved by building relationships across administrations and congressional terms. This does not dilute the AMA's values; it equips the association to defend them—often quietly, often over the long arc of legislation and regulation. (Free registration is required to view content.)

13. Whyte to helm medical group; Lachance named leader of science group; more departures and arrivals

    1. CEO Update, May 15, 2025
    2. The American Medical Association announced John Whyte, MD, MPH, has been named the next CEO and executive vice president of the $468M-revenue group, effective July 1. He will succeed James Madara, MD, who announced last June his intention to step down at the conclusion of his contract.

14. WebMD CMO Dr. John Whyte selected as new CEO of the AMA

    1. Healthcare Finance News, May 12, 2025
    2. "I am honored to join the AMA as CEO and serve the nation's patients and physicians," said Whyte. "I have tremendous respect and admiration for this venerable, science-based organization and its important work that improves the lives of millions of people. I see significant opportunities for a strong and vibrant AMA to fulfill its core mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health."

15. AMA Picks WebMD Doctor With U.S. Health Policy Background As New CEO

    1. Forbes, May 9, 2025
    2. The American Medical Association named as its new CEO John J. Whyte, MD, MPH, the chief medical officer at health information company WebMD who also worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

16. American Medical Association names John Whyte as CEO, EVP

    1. Fierce Healthcare, May 9, 2025
    2. The AMA noted that his appointment comes at a sensitive time for the physician profession. The organization is heavily lobbying for increased Medicare payments, careful adoption of new technologies like AI, restrictions on administrative requirements imposed by payers and a stronger stance on public health issues like vaccination.

17. SABRE Awards North America Winners

    1. PRovoke Media, May 7, 2025
    2. WINNER: Issues Management: Elevating Physician Concerns on the Change Healthcare Cyberattack - American Medical Association.

18. Prior authorization bills flounder despite bipartisan support

    1. Modern Healthcare, May 6, 2025
    2. In AMA surveys, doctors report care is delayed 93% of the time when pre-certification is required, and 29% of physicians say delays have led to serious adverse events.
    3. “Prior authorization remains a serious barrier to timely, high-quality care for our patients," AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, said in a statement. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

19. UnitedHealth’s move to end cyberattack loan lifeline upsets medical providers

    1. New York Times, May 5, 2025
    2. Last month, the American Medical Association sent a letter to Optum, the UnitedHealth division that owns Change, saying that it was concerned that many practices were being pressured to repay loans despite continued financial difficulties from the cyberattack. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)