AMA Leadership

Ushering in a new approach to medical education

When I look back, I marvel at how poorly my educational experiences of 30 years ago would have prepared me for the actualities of medical practice today.

Apr 15, 2014 ·

Three initiatives are leading physicians into the future

Although my time as AMA president begins to wind down, I’m looking toward the future. The AMA has worked hard over the past year to propel its three strategic focus areas forward, and we’ve made astonishing progress.

Apr 8, 2014 ·

How diabetes prevention is gaining national traction

As a family physician, I am no stranger to diabetes and prediabetes—the disease afflicts far too many of my patients. The same holds true for every other primary care doctor.

Apr 1, 2014 ·

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.

Mar 28, 2014 ·

2 MIN READ

Creating a better health care system: Experts explore options

The AMA’s work in its three strategic focus areas are building blocks toward a better health care system, said AMA CEO and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, MD, Thursday during a capstone panel hosted by The Atlantic.

Mar 25, 2014 ·

The riskiest part of change in health care

I had a true “aha” moment earlier this month when I was in Washington, D.C., for the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference. It was one of those moments of heightened awareness that comes from a fundamental realization that applies not to an isolated issue but to a broad spectrum of life.

Mar 18, 2014 ·

Will SGR repeal legislation turn into a missed opportunity?

Congress made tremendous progress over the past year as lawmakers worked together across chambers to craft bipartisan legislation to reform Medicare’s failing payment system. But recent partisan tactics could prevent repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment formula from crossing the finish line, even as the March 31 deadline approaches.

Mar 11, 2014 ·

2 MIN READ

We've had enough patches; now's the time for SGR repeal

Last week several hundred physicians met with our members of Congress. Our mission was to spur Congress to act on a bipartisan bill to repeal Medicare’s flawed sustainable growth rate payment formula.

Mar 4, 2014 ·

2 MIN READ

In D.C., it's crunch time for SGR repeal—add your voice to ours

I’m in our nation’s capital this week with hundreds of my fellow physicians at the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference to tell our members of Congress that now is the time to fix the broken Medicare payment formula once and for all.