AR-IMPACT was created to improve multi-disciplinary pain care and treatment for Arkansas physicians. The weekly interactive tele-video program offers free CME credit to better manage chronic pain patients and those who need their opioid dosage reduced. The first conference is scheduled for May 2nd and will continue to be held each Wednesday, from 12:00 to 1:00. The interactive conferences will begin with a brief didactic presentation about an aspect of the care, followed by a case conference format where doctors… Read More

  Beginning in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will mail new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare on a flow basis by geographic location and other factors. Additional details… Read More

In December 2017, the American Medical Association conducted a survey of 1000 practicing physicians (40% primary care/60% specialists) to gain more insight and data on the extent to which prior authorization requirements delay or interfere… Read More

AMS has learned from the Medicaid program that a capitation payment (PBPM) for Quarter 1 of 2018 was generated to PCMHs on March 10 with a settlement date of March 16 and some of those… Read More

The new Medicare card is a result of MACRA’s requirement that CMS issue Medicare cards that do not display Social Security numbers to address the risk of beneficiary identity theft. New Medicare cards will be… Read More

Social media is an increasingly common presence within the healthcare industry – among providers and consumers alike – but despite the potential benefits it can offer both parties, it introduces many risks. Paging Dr. Google… Read More

Seasonal Influenza A(H3N2) Activity and Antiviral Treatment of Patients with Influenza Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing: a notice about increased influenza A(H3N2) activity and its clinical implications; a summary… Read More

Due to feedback from users, DocbookMD, a fully encrypted, exclusive messaging service for AMS members, has discontinued the “CareTeam” feature for new enrollees. “Care Team” allowed physicians to add other medical staff to their DocbookMD… Read More

The day was drawing to an end and Charlie – my third year medical student – and I were struggling to see the last patients when my pager went off. Being involved in examining a patient… Read More

Little Rock –  A coalition representing a diverse group of Arkansans has joined together to support commonsense reforms that will help make Arkansas more competitive with surrounding states and protect everyday Arkansans. Paperwork was filed… Read More

AMS has learned that the state’s largest insurance carrier, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will reduce reimbursements to its provider network effective January 1, 2018.  The reduction applies only to the carrier’s individual metallic… Read More