ABOUT US

Who We Are

Physician formed and led, the Arkansas Medical Society was created by our predecessors to help ease our burden, to increase our reach as individuals, to look out for our interests … to make us better physicians.

AMS is dedicated to improving healthcare in Arkansas and helping physicians focus on caring for their patients. Whether you want to be fully involved in the process or simply support the mission, the Society needs you and is here for you – as your advocate, your support system and your source for healthcare news and resources.

A Bit of History

The Arkansas Medical Society was formed in 1875 by a small group of physicians who recognized the need to work together to improve healthcare. In 2025, the Society celebrated 150 years of advocacy. Through the years, the Society has grown to become one of the most respected and influential healthcare organizations in Arkansas.

Organizing Medicine

The Arkansas Medical Society was founded on the principle that by combining our efforts, we become a powerful force for physicians and their patients. At the AMS Annual Session and Fall Meeting, members come together to review the year’s goals and activities, plan for upcoming tasks and elect new officers. The Annual Session is held each spring and the Fall Meeting is held on even-numbered years ahead of regular legislative sessions.

Your Advocates

The AMS governmental affairs team diligently represents your interests at the state Capitol and in Washington.

AMS members serve on various task forces, boards, commissions, and committees relative to healthcare issues. AMS also retains knowledgeable legal counsel as a source of beginning reference for physicians, their offices and the society.

For Your Practice

The Arkansas Medical Society has the tools and resources to help individual physicians, clinic staff, and large groups improve the business side of medicine. Staff members work diligently to stay up-to-date in all areas of practice management and can provide the help you need with contract negotiations, billing, coding, problems and concerns with insurance payers, personnel issues, and more. We continually strive to keep abreast of changes that can impact your practice. Help is just a call away at 501-224-8967.

AMS also provides educational programs. The most popular event, the Annual Insurance Con­ference, is specifically designed to provide updates from the major insurance payors to help address concerns about claim processing, coding and other billing or administrative issues. Other educational opportunities including webinars and online CME are also available and can be found on the calendar.

Insurance Benefits

AMS Benefits, Inc. is a one-stop shop for physician-focused insurance. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Arkansas Medical Society, AMS Benefits, Inc. is dedicated to providing comprehensive, quality insurance coverage for physicians, their families, and their practices. To learn more, call 501-224-8967.

State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company (SVMIC), is the exclusively endorsed provider of medical professional liability insurance by the Arkansas Medical Society.  As one of the largest writers of medical professional liability coverage in the state, SVMIC has a long-standing commitment to supporting the Society and its affiliated programs. When you chose SVMIC as your professional liability carrier, you gain more than just insurance; you gain a trusted business partner. SVMIC offers a comprehensive suite of professional practice resources tailored for physicians, practice administrators, and their staff.  Learn more at www.svmic.com.

Publications

AMS members receive the award-winning Journal of the Arkansas Medical
Soci­ety. Published quarterly, this member-focused publication contains timely feature articles and useful updates on things like practice management, insurance, legislation, health policy, member news, medical school news, and more. AMS Chart Notes e-newsletter is sent regularly to members and contains timely information relating to physicians and the practice of medicine in our state. Members also have access to the online AMS Membership Directory. This valuable resource is widely used by physicians, office staff, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals.

Improving Arkansas

The call to improve healthcare involves touching the lives of Arkansans in need. AMS has the opportunity to specifi­cally work towards becoming a better state through its foundations, created to serve physicians, patients and medical stu­dents.