AMA in the News

AMA in the News: December 2019

. 5 MIN READ

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 releases online checklist for E/M services transition

    1. Healthcare IT News, Dec. 31, 2019
    2. The American Medical Association has released a checklist and online resources meant to assist physician practices with new Medicare office visit coding and documentation requirements.

  2. AMA offers practices help with E/M office visit code changes

    1. Health Data Management, Dec. 30, 2019
    2. “These foundational changes are intended to reduce documentation burden and provide physicians more time with patients, not paperwork,” AMA President Patrice Harris said in a statement. “The AMA is helping physician practices to start planning now and offers resources to anticipate the operational, infrastructural and administrative workflow adjustments that will result from this overhaul.” (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

  3. Trump, healthcare groups respond to ruling on ACA's individual mandate

    1. Becker’s Hospital Review, Dec. 20, 2019
    2. The American Medical Association issued a similar statement of concern. "Today's decision leaves important health insurance protections shrouded in uncertainty despite overwhelming public support for these policies," AMA President Patrice Harris, MD, said.

  4. Advocates hopeful gun violence research funding will lead to prevention

    1. The Hill, Dec. 18, 2019
    2. For the first time in 23 years, a government spending bill will set aside funds—in this case, $25 million—for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to collect data on what the American Medical Association has called a public health crisis.

  5. EHRs in 2019: Still a source of frustration, but getting better bit by bit

    1. Healthcare IT News, Dec. 16, 2019
    2. The fixes can be large: This year the American Medical Association announced its new Practice Transformation Initiative, designed to help fill some of those knowledge gaps and evidence-based best practices. Participating health systems will use validated assessment tools to field test workflow improvement tools, applying research methodology to evaluate their impact and sharing best practices within an AMA-facilitated learning community.

  6. AMA reignites privacy paternalism debate

    1. POLITICO, Dec. 13, 2019
    2. AMA reignites privacy paternalism debate: The powerful lobbying group has raised concern about apparent lack of safeguards against the misuse of patient data. Not everyone thinks it's their problem.

  7. 10 Doctor-Recommended Health Tips for the New Year

    1. StatePoint Media, Dec. 12, 2019
    2. “With too many holiday sweets and not enough exercise likely in the rearview mirror, now is the perfect time to consider your personal goals and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Patrice A. Harris, MD. “The good news is that there are a few easy steps you can take that will set you on the right track for a healthier 2020.”

  8. AMA: ONC proposed rule leaves patients’ data, privacy vulnerable

    1. Health Data Management, Dec. 12, 2019
    2. “The AMA supports and encourages the right of a patients to access their medical record—what we do not support is a policy that enables third parties to monetize patients’ data,” says Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees. “ONC’s proposals will allow apps to use, package, and sell patient information—which could contain financial and family information—to the highest bidder. Patient privacy will be violated and could break the bonds of trust that exists between patients and their physician.” (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)

  9. Modern Healthcare’s 100 most influential: Dr. James Madara

    1. Modern Healthcare, Dec. 11, 2019
    2. Under Madara, AMA is focused on reimagining medical education. In May, AMA announced 37 schools being a part of the $15 million grant program, “Accelerating Change in Medical Education.” 

  10. Health systems weigh return on investment as they ramp up tech

    1. Modern Healthcare, Dec. 11, 2019
    2. "You can get consumers to use the apps, but how do you get the combination of a doctor and the health system or practice setting to change how they are doing things?" Christopher Khoury, the American Medical Association's vice president of environmental intelligence and strategic analytics, told PwC.

  11. Coding Changes for 2020: Don't Miss Out

    1. Medscape, Dec. 11, 2019
    2. The best way to stay up-to-date with 2020 changes is to get the new CPT book CPT Changes: An Insider's View, published annually by the American Medical Association (AMA). Appendix B summarizes the additions, deletions, and revisions. (Free registration is required to view content.)

  12. Celebrating Women in Medicine

    1. Diversity in Action, Dec. 6, 2019
    2. Patrice Harris, MD helps forge the way for African American physicians while realizing her own childhood dream.

  13. Religious, legal and medical groups voice opposition to Louisiana abortion law to Supreme Court

    1. CBS News, Dec. 4, 2019
    2. Though many of the briefs came from pro-abortion rights advocates like Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, a handful came from non-partisan groups including the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

  14. Medicare Advantage Enrollees Discover Dirty Little Secret

    1. Medpage Today, Dec. 3, 2019
    2. Some advocacy groups, including the American Medical Association (AMA), are pushing to mandate tighter plan rules and disclosure, with lists of network specialists. The AMA recently approved a resolution calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other stakeholders, including the senior citizens' lobby AARP, to make the process of choosing Medicare plans less confusing and more transparent.

  15. Physicians Caring for Migrants Are 'Screaming Into the Void'

    1. Medscape, Dec. 3, 2019
    2. "We are deeply committed to the health and safety of all individuals regardless of their immigration status," said Patrice Harris, MD, MA, the association's president. As a child psychiatrist who has long worked with children in Atlanta's foster care system, Harris is especially troubled by the separation of migrant children from their families. "We will continue to raise our voices and speak out as long as there are inhumane conditions," she said. (Free registration is required to view content.)

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