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4 Min Read

Why permanent SGR repeal lost to another temporary payment patch

I posed an important question in an AMA Viewpoints post two weeks ago: Would the bipartisan legislative policy for repealing Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula turn into a missed opportunity? For Congress, it certainly did. For physicians, the story is more complicated.

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Leadership
Leadership Viewpoints
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2 Min Read

Casting aside reform bill, Congress passes another Medicare patch

The U.S. Senate Monday evening voted in favor of yet another temporary measure in a long line of Medicare payment patches, casting aside broadly supported legislative policy that instead would have reformed the Medicare payment update system.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 Min Read

Meaningful use exemption added as EHR program moves forward

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced an addition to its hardship exemptions available to physicians who are unable to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR).

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

Where we are on the road to physician-led integrated care

If you’re in a physician-led integrated practice setting, or moving in that direction, the annual meeting of the AMA Integrated Physician Practice Section (IPPS) will shed light on how physicians are shaping emerging care delivery and payment models.

Scope of Practice
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2 Min Read

House resorts to "trickery" in passing unwanted Medicare patch

In a move that is being called an “outrageous” ploy, the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday used a voice vote—absent the majority of representatives—to pass a Medicare payment patch strongly opposed by physician groups. 

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

Free tip sheet series can help ease transition to ICD-10

Have you started to prepare for the mandated transition to the ICD-10 code set? As the current Oct. 1 deadline approaches the six-month mark, physicians who are working toward making the move can use a series of free ICD-10 tip sheets developed by the AMA.

Claims Processing
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3 Min Read

Extend review timeline for Sunshine Act, AMA tells CMS

Physicians won’t have enough time to review and challenge false or inaccurate data about financial interactions they have had with drug and medical device companies as a result of delays by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, the AMA told the agency.

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

Act now before Medicare patch expires, AMA tells Senate

As the March 31 deadline for reforming Medicare’s broken payment update system draws near, the AMA sent a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Senate, calling on Congress to work across party lines to eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula while there’s still time.  

Medicare & Medicaid
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1 Min Read

How Medicare cuts threaten access to care in Michigan

Unless Congress repeals Medicare’s flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula by March 31, Michigan physicians face a 24 percent cut to payments for Medicare claims.

Medicare & Medicaid