Enrollment for the Arkansas Medicaid Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Program is Open Until October 31
New requirement for enrollment eligibility: The practice must have at least 150 attributed beneficiaries at the time of enrollment. If you are currently enrolled in PCMH, you should have received an application form with a list of current participating providers. Providers who are currently enrolled with your PCMH…
Dr. Barbe: We need more time with patients, less at the keyboard
Family physician, and AMA President David Barbe, MD, MHA, recently told a Washington audience that government can a play a role in strengthening the “almost sacred” patient-physician relationship by reducing physicians’ administrative burdens, increasing cost transparency and facilitating electronic health record (EHR) interoperability and data liquidity. “Physicians have…
CDC Health Advisory: Increase in Reported cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis Infection, United States, Summer 2017
Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State and Local Health Departments, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating an increase in reported cases of cyclosporiasis. The purpose of this HAN Advisory is to notify public health departments and healthcare facilities and to provide guidance to healthcare…
ASMB Proposes New and Amended Rules
On Thursday, August 3, 2017, the Arkansas State Medical Board will hold public hearings on several proposed rule amendments and new rules. Comments can be submitted to the Board until the August 3rd public hearing. Among the proposals: Amendment to Regulation 2(4), listing the prescribing of excessive amounts…
Legislation Goes into Effect: What You Need to Know
AMS actively tracked and worked 342 of the 2,069 bills filed in the 2017 legislative session. The following bills represent some of more high-profile issues AMS successfully fought for, amended and/or monitored closely that we anticipate will have more of an impact on you, your patients and your practice: Physician…
Medicine Challenged Insurance Mega-Mergers and Won
On April 28, a federal appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling to block industry giant Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna. This is a monumental win for America’s patients and physicians, which was made possible through medicine’s joint leadership -- most notably collaboration between the Arkansas Medical Society…
AMS Disability Insurance
According to The Council for Disability Awareness, at some time during their working careers, three out of every ten workers will suffer a disability and be unable to work for a significant period of time. Disability insurance provides invaluable protection for your most valuable asset, your ability to…
Sens. Collins, Cassidy unveil ACA replacement proposal
The New York Times (1/23, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports that on Monday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-MA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) unveiled “a partial replacement for the Affordable Care Act” which “would allow states to continue operating under the law if they choose.” The article says it is…
Aetna-Humana merger blocked by US District Judge
The New York Times (1/23, Picker, Abelson, Subscription Publication) reports Judge John D. Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia has blocked the proposed $37 billion merger of insurers Aetna and Humana. Bates said in his ruling that he “mostly agrees” with the argument…
ACA Update from Washington
CBO says repealing ACA would result in 18 million losing coverage in first year The New York Times (1/17, A1, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports on its front page that according to the Congressional Budget Office, some 18 million Americans would lose healthcare coverage in the first year if…
The One SURE THING in Medicine
It has been an interesting 2016, has it not? Governor Hutchinson proposed – the Arkansas Legislature passed; and HHS has issued a waiver for – a revision to Arkansas Medicaid Expansion; we have survived a campaign season and election which went very differently from what many pundits had…