CHICAGO — In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the American Medical Association continues to strongly urge to the Administration, Congressional leaders and other policymakers to address urgent health system and public health needs.
“Physicians across the country are rightly concerned about barriers to providing care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the AMA has ramped up its advocacy significantly to ensure frontline physician needs are addressed,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. “Whether it’s access to PPE and testing, addressing care delivery concerns, or ensuring viability of practices, the AMA’s advocacy is focused on addressing the most pressing needs impacting physicians and patients as COVID-19 impacts our nation.”
A summary of priority correspondence on COVID-19 is provided below:
AMA Letters:
- March 19- Letter to Congressional Leaders re: urgent steps to help preserve viability of physician practices due to the demands of COVID-19.
- March 18- Letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma re: CPT code clarification in light of COVID-19 with remote physiologic monitoring and telephone evaluation and management.
- March 16- Letter to Vice President Michael Pence re: request for assistance with shortage of personal protective equipment for health care professionals.
- March 13- Letter to H.H.S. Secretary Alex Azar re: Medicare assistance for solutions facing the nation with the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sign-On Letters:
- March 20 - Letter to Congressional Leaders re joint industry letter asking for critical supports for physicians and practices in the third COVID-19 stimulus.
- March 19- Letter with AHA and ANA to Vice President Michael Pence re: assistance in a declaration of COVID-19 outbreak disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act or the National Emergencies Act.
- March 19 - Letter with AHA and ANA to Congressional Leaders re: asking Congress to allocate $100 billion to the front line health care personnel and providers.
- March 18- Letter to Mike Pence and Congressional Leaders re: joint industry letter that asks for help with expanding public health capacity and access to and the availability of testing and to take action to mitigate the economic and societal impact of COVID-19.
- March 16- Letter with AHA and ANA to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi re: assistance in providing front line health care providers with financial support.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
