Combined Force of 4,300 Physician Members has Big Impact
Healthcare Leader G. Edward Bryant, Jr., MD, says the Arkansas Medical Society combats major threats to practicing good medicine. AUTHOR Becky Gillette Article from the Arkansas Medical News, March/April 2016. When it comes to the greatest challenges facing physicians, whether it be excessive documentation required by government programs, insurance…
Deadline Extended for Hardship Exemption Application
New and Updated FAQs Provide Guidance on Public Health Reporting Requirements for the EHR Incentive Programs The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the application deadline for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program hardship exception process that reduces burden on clinicians, hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs). The new deadline…
Avoid meaningful use penalties: Exemption deadline now July 1
Physicians now have until July 1—an additional three months—to apply for a hardship exemption from the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use financial penalties for the 2015 program year. Those who don’t apply could face up to a 3 percent cut in their Medicare payments in 2017 since…
AMS Welcomes 21 New Members
By joining the Arkansas Medical Society (AMS), the physicians listed below have illustrated their commitment to improving health care in their communities and our state. “As AMS members, these physicians are part of a statewide network of over 4,300 Arkansas physicians, residents and medical students, dedicated to protecting…
Governors discuss ways to fight opioid abuse epidemic
The AP (2/22, Nuckols) reports that President Obama “declined to endorse” a proposal by the National Governors Association to limit the number of opioid pain medications physicians can prescribe. According to the AP, “Obama was cool to the idea at a meeting with the governors he hosted at…
CCMS Clarification on Meaningful Use Hardship Exemption
In response to requests from the AMA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued FAQ #14357 clarifying that applying for a hardship exemption from the 2017 meaningful use payment penalty will not preclude physicians from receiving the incentive if they successfully attest to meaningful use…
US, Brazil launch campaigns against spread of Zika virus
The Washington Post (2/13, A1, Sun, Dennis) reported that global health officials “are mobilizing to battle the fast-spreading Zika virus, sending rapid-response teams to affected regions, issuing travel warnings for pregnant women, accelerating vaccine trials and even deploying mosquito-fighting troops to hard-hit areas in Brazil.” The Post explained…
White House to request $1.1 billion to address opioid crisis
The New York Times (2/2, A13, Harris, Subscription Publication) reports that the Obama Administration said Tuesday it would ask Congress to spend an additional $1.1 billion next year to fight the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic. Nearly half of the new funds would be used to expand treatment facilities.…
Flu Season Begins: Severe Influenza Illness Reported
CDC urges rapid antiviral treatment of very ill and high risk suspect influenza patients without waiting for testing CDC HEALTH ADVISORY: February 1, 2016 Summary Influenza activity is increasing across the country and CDC has received reports of severe influenza illness. Clinicians are reminded to treat suspected influenza in…
New Guidelines Seek to Prevent Overuse of Antibiotics in Adults
The CDC and the American College of Physicians recently issued guidelines intended to help physicians avoid overuse of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections in adults. The guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, describe how physicians begin deciding if antibiotics are warranted for certain respiratory complaints, explain that…
New Issue of AMS NewsBriefs Now Available
The latest issue of AMS NewsBriefs has been distributed via email and printed mail. Members, if you do 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 in the Latest News section.