April 15, 2022: Advocacy Update other news

Earlier this year, the AMA released an initial toolkit (PDF) for physicians on implementation of the No Surprises Act (NSA). Access a second AMA toolkit (PDF) to assist physicians with the payment process for certain out-of-network care under the NSA. As you know, the NSA prohibits surprise billing for emergency care and some non-emergency care at in-network facilities. The law and implementing regulations have established a process to determine payment for physicians and other providers that includes an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. As we are still awaiting additional federal guidance on the IDR process, as well as anticipating the opening of the federal online portal through which this process will occur later this month, this toolkit will be updated when new information is available.   

As part of its AMA Advocacy Insights series, a new webinar, “Out-of-network payment process under the No Surprises Act,” on April 21, will provide additional information on this process. Register now.  

Additionally, there is updated information on the AMA-AHA lawsuit over a narrow, but critical, component of the interim final rule implementing the IDR process under the NSA.   

The electronic health record (EHR) has profoundly changed the practice of medicine in both positive and negative ways. While most EHRs have customizable tools that can save time if used optimally, approximately 50% of a physician’s day is currently being spent on EHR and desk work. This EHR burden is a major contributor to physician burnout and it is imperative for organizations to learn how to “tame” the EHR by implementing effective team-based care principles and system-level improvement.

The AMA STEPS Forward™ Taming the EHR Playbook walks physicians and care team members through a series of practical, actionable steps to help improve efficiency, alleviate stress and maximize the benefits of the EHR. 

The AMA’s regulatory myths series provides physicians and their care teams with resources to reduce guesswork and administrative burdens so they can focus on streamlining clinical workflow processes, improving patient outcomes and increasing physician satisfaction. The latest myth in the series focuses on whether physicians can bill for both preventive and E/M services in the same visit. Physicians are not prohibited from coding and billing for both preventive and problem-focused E/M services when they are performed during the same appointment, and this resource provides helpful information on when and how to appropriately handle this common situation. 

In the latest AMA STEPS Forward™ podcast episode, Kevin Hopkins, MD, primary care medical director at Cleveland Clinic and senior physician advisor at the AMA, discusses the current state of telemedicine and why it’s important for practices and health systems to pivot from a “physician-does-it-all” mentality and embrace team-based care. 

• April 15, 2022: Advocacy Update spotlight on PRF requests for late reporting
• April 15, 2022: National Advocacy Update
• April 15, 2022: State Advocacy Update