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 of controlled substances as “malpractice.” The amendment defines “excessive” in two ways. “Any” amount prescribed without a detailed medical justification documented in the medical record. If there is medical justification, excessive would… Read More

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… Read More

“Where’s my doctor?” We get that question a lot. It happens often when a physician leaves a practice, usually as an employee. Under most employment contracts the practice – either under hospital or physician ownership – retains ownership… Read More

The AMS office has received several calls over the past couple of weeks about Act 820, which mandates checking the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program prior to prescribing certain medications. Apparently, some hospitals are incorrectly telling… Read More

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… Read More

AMS has a lot on its plate. We will be asking legislators to file numerous bills that address issues and concerns affecting your practice and your profession. We will be fighting a mountain of legislation… Read More

The Regular Session of the 91st Arkansas General Assembly will convene on Monday, January 9, 2017. If, like previous general sessions, AMS anticipates the session extending into April. Please watch for the AMS legislative alerts… Read More

Thursday Oct 13, 2016 – AMS has just learned that the Arkansas Supreme Court has disqualified the AMS supported tort reform amendment (Issue 4) from the November ballot.  Two separate lawsuits were filed with the Court… Read More

In voting to oppose both ballot initiatives, the AMS Board of Trustees adopted the following position statement at their July 27th meeting: While there is evidence that now suggests that cannabinoids may have beneficial clinical… Read More

Tort Reform Amendment – The Board authorized spending up to $250,000 in support of a constitutional amendment that would (a) limit plaintiff attorney fees, and (b) place a cap of no less than $250,000 per… Read More

By John Lyon, Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK — A legislative panel declined Monday to sign off on proposed regulations to allow doctors to treat Arkansas patients remotely using audio and video technology. During a joint… Read More