American Medical Association in the News

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.

Why doctors are calling it quits
1. Crain’s Chicago Business, Jan. 29, 2024
2. In October, American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, stood before the National Press Club and recounted a story about a medical school classmate and emergency room physician who committed suicide.
'It's going to save lives': AMA president lauds new prior authorization rule
1. Becker’s Hospital Review, Jan. 26, 2024
2. American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD,MPH, said in a Jan. 25 article on the organization's website that this is "arguably the most important change because it's going to save lives."
Congress eyes another run at prior authorization
1. Axios Pro, Jan. 22, 2024
2. Powerful health industry groups like the American Medical Association and American Hospital Association have praised the administration rule, in a sign a legislative push could gain strength. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)
AMA to Congress: Cancel Medicare funding cuts
1. Medical Economics, Jan. 18, 2024
2. “We are disappointed that Congress chose not to stop serious Medicare cuts for physician services in the temporary CR” [continuing resolution], AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, said in a written statement. “Failure to reverse these cuts will create access issues for patients and small, independent physician practices, especially those in rural and underserved areas.”
Doctors and hospitals praise new prior authorization rule, but some want more from Congress
1. Chief Healthcare Executive, Jan. 18, 2024
2. Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, president of the American Medical Association, which has faulted the prior authorization process for frustrating doctors and leading to worse outcomes for patients, offered praise for the new policy. He lauded the move to an electronic authorization process in electronic health records, which provides more automation and efficiency for doctors.
3. “The AMA also appreciates that the rule will significantly enhance transparency around prior authorization by requiring specific denial reasons and public reporting of program metrics as well as requiring that prior authorization information be available to patients to help them become more informed decision makers,” Ehrenfeld said in a statement.
4. The AMA plans to work with CMS to expand improvements to drug prior authorization, he added.
AMA President: Medicare physician pay cuts will have ‘dire’ impact if not reversed
1. Med City News, Jan. 17, 2024
2. Reversing the 3.37% Medicare pay cut that went into effect for physician practices on January 1 is a top priority for the American Medical Association, said Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, president of the organization.
Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, president of the American Medical Association, wants Congress to reconsider its proposed cut to doctors' Medicare reimbursements
1. Politico, Jan. 16, 2024
2. A 3.4 percent cut to Medicare reimbursements for doctors took effect Jan. 1, and physicians are desperately trying to convince Congress to reverse it, saying it will endanger patient access.
3. Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, president of the American Medical Association, spoke with Daniel about the thorny policy environment doctors face.
Panel recommends small bump in 2025 Medicare physician pay
1. Medscape, Jan. 12, 2024
2. "Long-term reforms from Congress are overdue to close the unsustainable gap between what Medicare pays physicians and the actual costs of delivering high-quality care," Ehrenfeld said. "When adjusted for inflation in practice costs, Medicare physician pay declined 26% from 2001 to 2023." (Free registration is required to view content.)
Congressional advisers recommend pay increase for doctors
1. Axios, Jan. 12, 2024
2. The American Medical Association, which is calling for broader reforms that more closely tie physician payment to inflation, called MedPAC's recommendation a "critical first step."
The AMA wants a Medicare cut reversed—and lawmakers to stay out of care
1. Washington Post, Jan. 11, 2024
2. The Post spoke with Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, the president of the American Medical Association, the nation’s largest lobby group for doctors, about his organization’s priorities in Washington.
3. Ehrenfeld is a Wisconsin anesthesiologist, researcher and medical school professor who also directs a health-care philanthropy in his state. He’s an Afghanistan combat veteran, the first openly gay president of the AMA and a national advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)
AMA praises MedPAC recommendation for more Medicare physician reimbursement
1. Medical Economics, Jan. 11, 2024
2. The American Medical Association (AMA) praised the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for supporting an increase for physician reimbursement.
All about the (government) funding
1. KKF Health News, Jan. 11, 2024
2. Also this week, Rovner interviews American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, whose focus is helping the nation’s physicians navigate a rapidly changing health care system.
Congress faces pressure to reverse doctors' payment cuts—again
1. Axios, Jan. 10, 2024
2. What they're saying: American Medical Association president Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, told Axios the cuts are "placing enormous pressure on physicians."
GOP physicians to meet with House speaker on doctor pay fix
1. Politico PRO, Jan. 9, 2023
2. Doctors’ groups, such as the American Medical Association, say the cut would force some physicians to stop taking Medicare patients. That could potentially leave millions of older Americans without access to affordable health care, they said.
Biden administration replaces Trump-era provider conscience rule
1. Modern Healthcare, Jan. 9, 2024
2. The health care sector largely opposed the Trump administration regulation. For example, the American Medical Association said the rule would have allowed physicians to “refuse medically appropriate care even when their refusal jeopardizes another’s life and safety."
Flag on HHS penalties
1. Politico, Jan. 9, 2023
2. The American Medical Association said it was concerned that the resulting penalties wouldn’t be proportional to the underlying conduct and the proposal doesn’t have a sufficient appeals process. The physician group also said the rule would dissuade participation in Medicare value-based care and quality initiatives and exacerbate Medicare payment issues.
Will CMS crack down on prior authorization?
1. Washington Post, Jan. 9, 2024
2. Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, president of the American Medical Association, told KFF Health News on Monday that he hopes the proposed rule, if finalized, would “move the needle a little bit”—but he said it won’t be enough.
3. “I think we’re going to have to have regulatory relief from Congress,” said Ehrenfeld, an anesthesiologist. “Unfortunately, I hear from colleagues every week who are just at their wits’ end and it’s frustrating. I see it with my own parents.” (Publication subscription is required for full or unlimited access.)
The Congress members fighting CMS' 2024 pay cuts
1. Becker’s ASC Review, Jan. 4, 2024
2. Nearly 200 members of Congress have co-signed a bipartisan letter urging House and Senate leaders to pass legislation addressing 2024's Medicare physician pay cuts, according to a Jan. 4 report from the American Medical Association.
3. “I think we’re going to have to have regulatory relief from Congress,” said Ehrenfeld, an anesthesiologist. “Unfortunately, I hear from colleagues every week who are just at their wits’ end and it’s frustrating. I see it with my own parents.”
AMA’s top 10 health tips in 2024
1. Medical Economics, Jan. 2, 2024
2. “It is quite common after the holidays to think about all you’ve eaten or your reduced physical activity and get discouraged,” AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, said in a news release. “But the good news is you don’t have to make major health changes in one fell swoop. You can make small, positive health choices right now that can have long-lasting effects.”
AI predictions for the new year
1. Politico, Jan. 2, 2024
2. All sides of the business must work together to ensure the success and safety of the new tech, including AI-driven tools, according to guidance from the American Medical Association.