AMA/FEDERATION NEWS: National headlines, grassroots news and important AMA announcements for Federation executives and communicators.
*** Special AMA Interim Meeting issue ***
Editor’s note: The next regular issue of AMA/Federation News will be distributed Dec. 6.
TOP STORIES
1. Delegates adopt AMA policies to protect employed physicians, strengthen Medicare
2. Opening session celebrates physician leaders, progress by house of medicine
3. Litigation Center fights for authority of state regulatory boards
4. Read all the news from the AMA Interim Meeting
5. Nov. 27 webinar focuses on delivering value-based care
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TOP STORIES
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1. Delegates adopt AMA policies to protect employed physicians, strengthen Medicare
Physicians entering into employment and contractual arrangements received a strong show of support this week when physicians adopted new guiding principles to protect their autonomy during the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, which wrapped up Tuesday in Honolulu.
“The [principles] provide a broad framework to help guide physicians and their employers as they collaborate to provide safe, high-quality and cost-effective patient care,‿ AMA Board of Trustees member Joseph P. Annis, MD, said in a news release. “The guidelines reinforce that patients’ welfare must take priority in any situation where the interests of physicians and employers conflict.‿
Delegates also adopted policy recommending a set of principles that should be included in a Medicare defined contribution system that would enable beneficiaries to purchase the coverage of their choice from among competing health insurance plans, including traditional Medicare.
“This policy provides the framework to create the needed balance of access, affordability and financing and allows seniors the choice of coverage options that include both traditional Medicare and private insurance plans,‿ AMA President-elect Ardis D. Hoven, MD, said in a news release.
Among the dozens of other policies passed by the House this week were policies dealing with ICD-10, Medicaid expansion, physician leadership of health care teams, vaccination of health care workers and the creation of a new AMA Senior Physicians Section.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,1ozr,cs5d,fz6c,31o6 to read more in AMA Wire.
2. Opening session celebrates physician leaders, progress by house of medicine
The 66th Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates opened Nov. 10 with a celebration of inspiring acts by physicians and medical leaders, and stirring words from AMA leaders.
During the meeting’s opening session, AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, told delegates that physicians can accomplish great things when they summon their individual strength and work together toward a brighter future for patients and the profession.
“This unity of purpose makes us a powerful force,‿ Dr. Lazarus told delegates. By working together, “our destiny is on track to reshape health care.‿
Later in the session, James L. Madara, MD, AMA executive vice president and CEO, updated delegates on the AMA’s five-year strategic plan. Dr. Madara explained that fulfillment of the AMA’s strategy will mean a better future for patients, physicians and the country as a whole.
“There’s a great deal of work ahead of us,‿ Dr. Madara said. “But our opportunity to shape a better health care future—under physician leadership—has never been greater.‿
Also on Saturday, five physicians received awards for their service and work in the community. Additionally, two medical executives, from the Alaska State Medical Association and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, earned lifetime achievement awards.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,79ac,3ixn,fz6c,31o6 to read more in AMA Wire.
3. Litigation Center fights for authority of state regulatory boards
Physicians attending an open forum at the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates heard about recent antitrust cases in which the Litigation Center of the AMA and State Medical Societies is standing up for physicians and patients.
Jointly held by the Litigation Center and the AMA Scope of Practice Partnership, the forum centered around the AMA’s work to address the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) interference with state regulation of health care professionals’ scope of practice.
In particular, attendees were briefed on the court case North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. FTC, in which the FTC has tread on the authority of state regulatory boards to oversee professional licensure, patient safety and the practice of medicine. The AMA filed a friend-of-the-court brief in favor of the licensure board.
A second case, FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, will be considered by the Supreme Court of the United States. The Litigation Center filed a friend-of-the-court brief in favor of neither party, instead cautioning the court that hospital competition is important for physicians and patients and underscoring the necessity of letting state medical boards carry out their responsibilities.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,e78i,v7z,fz6c,31o6 to learn more about these and other antitrust-related cases in which the Litigation Center has been involved.
4. Read all the news from the AMA Interim Meeting
Learn about all the events and news surrounding the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates—including the 10th annual AMA Research Symposium, actions of the AMA sections and special groups, and the open forum of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs—by checking out other AMA publications.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,2lym,k3oo,fz6c,31o6 to view speeches and read daily highlights from the meeting.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,6g30,6yv3,fz6c,31o6 to read coverage of House action in American Medical News.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,4lcl,7klg,fz6c,31o6 to read news releases about new policies and award winners.
5. Nov. 27 webinar focuses on delivering value-based care
With Medicare and other payers transitioning to new payment models that reward high-quality and cost-effective care, physicians can learn what it means to deliver value-based care by participating in an AMA webinar at 7 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 27.
The webinar, “Here it comes … Delivery reform, payment reform and everything in between,‿ is the first in a new series that will highlight why current reform efforts will succeed where others have failed. This webinar will include a discussion of what it means to deliver value-based care, an explanation of key concepts related to delivery and payment reform, and a comparison of today’s reform efforts to those of the past.
Physicians can earn continuing medical education credit in the form of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by participating in the webinar, which is hosted by the AMA Innovators Committee. AMA members can register for free; nonmembers can sign up for $30.
Subsequent webinars will offer step-by-step guidance on how to improve care coordination, how to optimize practice workflow, how to meaningfully analyze one’s performance and how value-based payment models can be customized to work for any physician practice.
Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,19b23,2ke5,f4vl,7lz,fz6c,31o6 to register for the Nov. 27 webinar.
