Arkansas Radiologist and former State Legislator Elected to AMA Board of Trustees
CHICAGO - The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization, announced the election of Arkansas radiologist Scott Ferguson, M.D., to its Board of Trustees. “I have spent my career fighting to preserve physician choice and autonomy, patient protections and the physician-patient relationship,” said Dr. Ferguson. “As a…
Will Medical Marijuana Help Reverse the Opioid Crisis?
Article originally appeared in the July 2018 issue of The Journal. For my colleagues who have been practicing medicine for at least 20 years, the path leading to the current opioid crisis is familiar. With the conceptualization of pain as a “fifth vital sign” by the American Pain…
Opioid Fight
An April 15 article in the Democrat-Gazette took aim at doctors for the opioid epidemic. The blame game makes for great headlines, particularly during a crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 100 people die every day in America due to an overdose of opioid drugs. Prescription medications…
PCMH High Priority Beneficiary (HPB) Selection, Deadline May 31
AMS has been notified that some changes have been made to a physician's selection of high priority beneficiaries. The AHIN portal (BCBS) will reopen May 25 for physicians to reselect their PCMH HPBs for the 2018 performance period. This opportunity is due to the recent primary care provider (PCP) reassignment. It was…
Physicians from across the state representing their patients
The following physicians will be working together this year to protect the interest of their patients and improve the health of all Arkansans. They will work in various leadership roles within the Arkansas Medical Society to continue the association’s mission of improving health care in our state through…
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,…