Free Weekly CME Pain Consultation Service
AR-IMPACT was created to improve multi-disciplinary pain care and treatment for Arkansas physicians. The weekly interactive tele-video consultation program offers free CME credit to better manage chronic pain patients and those who need their opioid dosage reduced. The interactive conferences will begin with a brief didactic presentation about…
New Medicare Card
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 on timing will be available as the mailings progress. Mailing Schedule April -…
Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission Launches Drug Formulary Rule Limiting Payment for Opioid Prescriptions
The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission announces the adoption of Rule 099.41, a drug formulary which regulates all outpatient medications prescribed as a result of work-related injuries. The rule draws on a formulary already in use for state government employees who are injured on the job, with additional provisions for opioid…
Public Hearing on “Excessive Prescribing”
The Arkansas State Medical Board will hold a public hearing on April 5, 2018, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on revisions to the proposed amendments to Regulation 2.4 concerning definitions for "excessive prescribing." The Board held an informational hearing at their last meeting and have since made several very helpful changes…
AMA Releases Results of Prior Authorization Survey
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 with patients receiving timely care AND the burden PA requirements place on physician…
Board of Trustee Election Results
The elections for AMS district trustees concluded on February 28. The following were elected for two-year terms and will be confirmed at the AMS House of Delegates meeting on May 5: District 1 - Matthew Haustein MD, Jonesboro; District 2: Seth Barnes, MD, Batesville; District 3: James DeRossitt, MD,…
PBPM Payments
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 checks were paid incorrectly. According to DXC some of these PBPM payments from…
UAMS Announces Arkansas’ First Radiation Oncology Residency Program
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), College of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology is excited to announce its accreditation by ACGME to offer the first radiation oncology residency program in the state of Arkansas. This program will offer Arkansas medical students the opportunity to stay in…
Latest Newsletter Now Availible
The February 2018 issue of AMS NewsBriefs has been distributed via email and printed mail. Members, if you did not receive a copy, please give us a call to update your subscription preferences at 800-542-1058. The issue is available online in the Publications section as well as excerpts…
Prepare for New Medicare Cards
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 issued beginning in April 2018 and physician offices must be prepared to accept…
AMS Announces New Partnership With LendKey
AMS now has a solution for helping physicians manage their student loan debt. Through a new partnership with LendKey, AMS members can consolidate and refinance student loan debt at competitive interest rates (as low as 2.56%) for free. LendKey is not a bank, but a service that packages…