AMA Update – 2/2013

AMA/FEDERATION NEWS: National headlines, grassroots news and important AMA announcements .

 TOP STORIES

   1. Lawmakers aim to repeal SGR formula this year, seek physician insight

   2. AMA joins brief in Supreme Court case on pay-for-delay drug agreements

   3. Participants announced for CMS bundled care initiative; AMA applauds effort

 FEDERATION NEWS

   4. Indiana’s medical liability cap upheld

   5. Texas doctors get assistance in effective practice management

   6. Pennsylvania doctors target prescription drug abuse

 PUBLIC HEALTH

   7. Resource center offers guidance on caring for diabetes patients

   8. Motivating patients to make wise choices

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

    9. Benchmarking practice performance can boost value; innovators explain how

   10. Former CMS administrator among seven Dr. Nathan Davis Award winners

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TOP STORIES

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 1. Lawmakers aim to repeal SGR formula this year, seek physician insight

 Two influential congressional committees have set their sights on repealing Medicare’s failed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula this year, announcing plans to reform the program’s physician payment system using many of the principles the AMA and other medical associations proposed in October.

 Speaking at the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference last week, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, said his committee and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee plan to introduce legislation to eliminate the SGR formula before Congress’ August recess.

 “Our goal is to get it done this year, to actually have it on the House floor before the end of the summer—July or the first week of August,‿ Upton said.

 The bill is in the early drafting stages, and Upton said that physicians must have a strong hand in developing the details of the plan. The AMA plans to work with the representatives and their staff toward this end.

 Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,dg0z,g7ky,fz6c,31o6 to read more in AMA Wire.

  2. AMA joins brief in Supreme Court case on pay-for-delay drug agreements

 A friend-of-the-court brief filed recently by the AMA, AARP and other groups urges the Supreme Court of the United States to cut through barriers that prevent the sale of affordable generic medications.

 At question in the case is the legality of pharmaceutical exclusion agreements, in which brand-name drug manufacturers pay competing companies to keep more affordable generics off the market, a practice often known as “pay for delay.‿

 “The AMA believes that pay-for-delay agreements undermine the balance between spurring innovation through the patent system and fostering competition through the development of generic drugs,‿ AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, said in a news release. “Pay-for-delay must stop to ensure the most cost-effective treatment options are available to patients.‿

 Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,e5rl,23vg,fz6c,31o6 to read more in AMA Wire.

  3. Participants announced for CMS bundled care initiative; AMA applauds effort

 More than 500 health care organizations are now participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative, a pilot program to test how bundling payments for episodes of care can result in more coordinated care for beneficiaries and lower costs for Medicare.

 The first participants, announced Jan. 31 by CMS, will begin testing bundled payments for acute care hospital stays as early as April. The initiative includes four models of bundling payments, varying by the types of health care providers involved and the services included in the bundle.

 As an early supporter of pilots for bundling Medicare payments, the AMA believes this initiative, in conjunction with other new models for delivering care to Medicare patients, presents an opportunity to improve the quality of care and reduce costs. In a statement, AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, said the AMA is pleased the initiative provides flexibility and a range of models for the selected participants.

 Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,50vy,739s,fz6c,31o6 to read more in AMA Wire.

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FEDERATION NEWS

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 4. Indiana’s medical liability cap upheld

 A lawsuit challenging a cap on medical liability damage payments in the Hoosier State was knocked down by the Indiana Supreme Court last month.

 In a unanimous ruling, the court held that the plaintiff in Plank v. Community Hospitals of Indiana had waited too long to raise his challenge to the state’s $1.25 million statutory limit on damages in medical liability cases. The AMA and the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the cap.

 “The Indiana Supreme Court left open the possibility for other medical malpractice plaintiffs to timely seek an evidentiary hearing on constitutionality of the malpractice damages cap,‿ the ISMA said in an online update.

 This decision is a testament to the need for organized medicine’s continued monitoring f challenges to Indiana’s statutory cap on liability. 

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,1hky,6pgb,fz6c,31o6 to read more on the ISMA’s website.

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,47a,8tun,fz6c,31o6 to read the brief.

5. Texas doctors get assistance in effective practice management

A new program of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) aims to help new physicians run strong medical practices.

The program, managed by TMA’s practice consulting division, will help physicians—especially those who are newly licensed or finishing their training—successfully manage the business side of their practices.

Tactics that will be included in the program include a continuing medical education primer on financial management, a medical practice dashboard featuring performance measures and benchmarks, educational events and on-site training for those who need extra help.

“This program will help physicians maintain financially and operationally viable practices—something they’re not necessarily trained to do in medical school or residency,‿ Bridget McPhillips, TMA vice president of membership and business development, said in a news release.

A $100,000 grant from the Physicians Foundation will allow TMA to create the program’s tools.

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,61k3,kp3i,fz6c,31o6 to read the TMA news release.

6. Pennsylvania doctors target prescription drug abuse

Physicians in the Keystone State have launched a campaign to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic in their communities.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) debuted the “Pills for ills, not thrills‿ campaign in the fall and is urging state legislators to support doctors’ efforts by creating a controlled substance database.

“It would be a huge help to any physician to be able to find out if the person sitting in their office has recently filled a prescription from another physician for a controlled substance,‿ PAMED President C. Richard Schott, MD, said in a news release. “Diversion of medications by scammers leads to misuse and abuse that can result in overdoses and untimely death.‿

The campaign also offers a reference booklet to help physicians identify red flags associated with pill-seeking “doctor shoppers,‿ recognize patients with true pain and help patients overcome addiction.

While prescription drug abuse is a national problem, it is a particularly acute issue in Pennsylvania, which ranks ninth in the nation for drug overdose deaths.

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,eym3,75jd,fz6c,31o6 to read the PAMED news release.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

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7. Resource center offers guidance on caring for diabetes patients

A new website created by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) provides resources physicians and other health care professionals need to improve diabetes management for their patients.

Developed and reviewed by expert clinical endocrinologists, the website offers information, education and tools related to health care for diabetics. The website is divided into two sections—one on treating patients in the hospital setting and the other for ambulatory patient care. Resources deal with the major forms of glucose abnormalities, including pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy.

“AACE is dedicated to creating the best educational opportunities for our members and other allied health care professionals who specialize in endocrine-related disorders,‿ AACE President Alan Garber, MD, said in a news release. “Our society has become known for being active online, and we are proud to make this valuable resource available to our members anytime, anywhere.‿

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,mgqs,e827,fz6c,31o6 to access the resource center.

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,luk4,mfnv,fz6c,31o6 to read the AACE news release.

8. Motivating patients to make wise choices

Achieving superior clinical outcomes often depends less on physicians making the right diagnosis and recommending the correct treatment and more on their patients’ willingness to take the necessary steps to maintain or improve their health, American Medical News reports in a recent article.

Heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes together kill more than 1 million Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it is patient choices—to give up smoking, shed pounds, exercise and faithfully take prescribed medications—that are essential to making a meaningful dent in that deadly toll, American Medical News reports.

But despite their best attempts to educate, inform, cajole or bargain with patients, physicians often find themselves tossing up their hands in despair at patients’ failure to change their harmful health habits, American Medical News reports.

 Doctors have long hoped that developing a rapport with patients would help their messages finally sink in and prompt change. Now a growing body of evidence suggests that alternative ways of communicating with patients—ones that involve fewer instructions and more questions—can help physicians motivate at-risk patients to make smarter choices regarding their health, American Medical News reports.

 Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,4z0u,gn7x,fz6c,31o6 to read more in American Medical News.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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 9. Benchmarking practice performance can boost value; innovators explain how

 An AMA webinar at 7 p.m. Eastern time Feb. 27 will explain how to benchmark practice performance to prepare for value-based payments.

 Hosted by the AMA Innovators Committee, this webinar will help physicians:

 * Identify data sources and technology solutions to help measure performance.

* Assess the specific functionality they need in an electronic health record system or other technology solution to track performance and compare it against benchmarks.

* Pinpoint the measures most relevant to their practices.

* Understand how to track performance against benchmarks.

* Recognize suboptimal performance and implement a strategy for performance improvement.

 Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,1l0a,dew3,fz6c,31o6 to learn more and register.

 

 

10. Former CMS administrator among seven Dr. Nathan Davis Award winners

 

A former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is one of seven recipients of the AMA’s top government service honor in health care.

 

Donald Berwick, MD, a former CMS administrator appointed by President Obama, received one of the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service, presented last week during the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. The award is named after the AMA’s founder and is given to elected and career officials in federal, state and municipal service whose outstanding work has promoted the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

 

Other award winners are:

 

* Anthony G. Brown, Maryland lieutenant governor.

* Eileen Cody, Washington state representative.

* Arthur Evans, Philadelphia commissioner for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility.

* Thomas R. Insel, MD, director of the National Institutes of Mental Health.

* Charles M. Palmer, director of Iowa’s Department of Human Services.

* Maj. Gen. Kimberly Siniscalchi, assistant Air Force surgeon general.

 

Visit http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=b&rtr=on&s=x8pbgr,1dol5,2ke5,dhhd,8qu1,fz6c,31o6 to read more in a news release.

 

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