CMA physicians travel to D.C. to advocate on critical health care issues A California Medical Association (CMA) contingent of two dozen physician and medical student leaders recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the American Medical Association’s (AMA) National Advocacy Week. They met with 24 members of the California Congressional Delegation and top leadership of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to advocate for many health care issues critically important to California physicians. While in Washington, California physicians focused on promoting the bipartisan Affordable Care Act (ACA) market stabilization bill that would reinstate the cost-sharing reduction payments and ... April 5, 2018 CMA, General AMA, American Medical Association, Federal Legislative Advocacy 0 0 Comment Read More »
Patient outcomes shortchanged by prior authorization More than nine in 10 physicians (92 percent) say that prior authorizations programs have a negative impact on patient clinical outcomes, according to a new physician survey by the American Medical Association (AMA). The survey results further bolster a growing recognition across the entire health sector that prior authorization programs must be reformed. According to the AMA survey, which examined the experiences of 1,000 patient care physicians, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) report waiting at least one business day for prior authorization decisions from insurers—and nearly a third (30 percent) said ... April 5, 2018 Managed Care American Medical Association, Managed Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
Call for nominations: California Delegation to the AMA The California Medical Association (CMA) is seeking nominations for physicians to serve as at-large delegates and alternates to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. Current delegates who are eligible for reappointment must submit an application for the 2018 term. They will not be reappointed if a form is not submitted. We are seeking physicians who are active CMA members and able to serve as delegates or alternates twice a year during the annual (June) and interim (November) meetings of the AMA House of Delegates for a two-year term ... January 30, 2018 CMA, General AMA, American Medical Association, CMA Nominations 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA urges quick action to stabilize individual insurance market With the window quickly closing to properly price individual insurance products for 2018, the American Medical Association (AMA) is urging President Trump and Congressional leaders to commit to continued funding for the cost-sharing reductions that are critical to stabilizing the individual market. AMA, along with other groups representing insurers, hospitals, health plan purchasers and physicians, sent a letter urging quick action to deliver short-term stability and affordable coverage while broader marketplace stabilization efforts are developed. Nearly 60 percent of all individuals who purchase coverage via the exchange receive financial assistance to ... April 19, 2017 General, Managed Care ACA, Affordable Care Act, AMA, American Medical Association, Health Insurance Exchange, Insurance 0 0 Comment Read More »
California medical students elected to AMA offices Two California Medical Association (CMA) medical students were elected to American Medical Association (AMA) offices at the interim meeting held in November in Florida. Karthik Sarma, an M.D./Ph.D. student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees as the AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) representative. Helene Nepomuceno, a second-year medical student at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, was named chair-elect of the AMA MSS. Sarma has been a member of the California delegation to the AMA for the past ... December 13, 2016 General American Medical Association, Medical Students, Physician Leadership 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA delegates affirm commitment to health insurance coverage for all Americans At the interim meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates this weekend in Florida, delegates from the California Medical Association and more than 170 state and specialty medical societies from across the country affirmed their commitment to health insurance coverage for all Americans. “Using a comprehensive policy framework that has been refined over the past two decades, AMA will actively engage the incoming Trump Administration and Congress in discussions on the future direction of health care," said Andrew W. Gurman, M.D., AMA president. "AMA remains committed to ... November 21, 2016 General American Medical Association, Health Care Reform 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA introduces new MACRA payment model evaluator The American Medical Association (AMA) has introduced a new online tool to help physicians evaluate the various new Medicare payment models and improve their opportunities for success under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), which will go into effect in 2017. The AMA Payment Model Evaluator is a free interactive tool offering initial assessments to help physicians determine how their practices will be impacted by MACRA. Once physicians or medical practice administrators fill out the online questionnaire, they will receive guidance on participating in the MACRA ... October 14, 2016 Medicare American Medical Association, AMA, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA to award $50k for best ideas to create a healthier nation Do you have an idea that could help shape 21st century medicine? The American Medical Association (AMA) is helping physicians and medical students bring their cutting-edge health care ideas to reality with the launch of the AMA Healthier Nation Innovation Challenge. “New ideas for better care emerge every day from physicians and medical students on the front lines of medicine,” said AMA President Steven J. Stack, M.D. “AMA wants to support these health care innovators and help them succeed in moving their new ideas from the concept phase into day-to-day ... April 22, 2016 General Health Care Innovations, American Medical Association 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA publishes online Zika resource center for physicians On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency as the spread of the Zika virus has moved into more than 20 countries in Latin America. This rare move by the WHO signals the seriousness of the outbreak and gives countries powerful new tools to fight it. The WHO is concerned about a possible link between Zika virus and microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with brain damage and unusually small heads. Reported cases of microcephaly have risen sharply in Brazil, where Zika ... February 3, 2016 General Maternal and Child Health, Public Health, American Medical Association, WHO, Zika Virus 0 0 Comment Read More »
AMA publishes guide to physician-focused alternative payment models The legislation that repealed the Medicare sustainable growth rate—the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA)—created major new opportunities to advance alternative payment models (APM). Starting in 2019, MACRA will provide a 5 percent annual bonus payment to physicians who participate in APMs and it exempts them from participating in the fee-for-service meaningful use and quality reporting programs (MACRA's Merit-Based Incentive Payment System). In addition to accountable care organizations, medical homes and bundled payments for hospital-based episodes, MACRA also provides for the development of “physician-focused” APMs. The American Medical Association ... January 15, 2016 Medicare AMA, American Medical Association, Medicare, Alternative Payment Models (APM) 0 0 Comment Read More »
