American Medical Association (AMA)

The American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. The AMA mission is to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. The association represents physicians with a unified voice in courts and legislative bodies across the nation, removing obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading efforts to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises, and driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in healthcare.

SCAI AMA HOD delegates Jeff Marshall, MD, and And Edward Tuohy, MD, explain how the resolution will have AMA advocate for Medicare payment policy that removes high-ticket supplies from OBL physician payments and will enable these to be billed separately.

AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs

SCAI and other healthcare groups want changes made to how healthcare providers are paid after performing office-based lab procedures. "As much as we love delivering care as doctors, if we are losing money doing something, we cannot sustain it," one cardiologist explained. 

American Medical Association (AMA) President Bruce Scott, MD, an otolaryngologist in Louisville, Kentucky, explains some of the key issues facing physicians, including burnout, growing medical staffing shortages, declining numbers of doctors in rural areas, increasing numbers of patients, large medical education debt payments, the lack of residency positions to train new doctors, and declining Medicare payments, which have declined 33% since 2000. Scott said these issues are also interrelated.

AMA President highlights growing crisis facing U.S. physicians

American Medical Association President Bruce Scott, MD, explains some of the key issues facing physicians, including burnout, growing medical staffing shortages, doctors leaving rural areas, increasing patients and declining Medicare payments.

 

Former American College of Cardiology (ACC) president Kim Allan Williams, Sr., MD, MACC, MASNC, FAHA, FESC, chair, department of medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, and an ACC delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates, discusses AMA Resolution 404 aimed at improving public awareness of low-dose CT lung cancer screening that can also identify coronary artery disease (CAD) ate the same time.

ACC backs AMA resolution to boost lung cancer and heart disease screenings in smokers with low-dose CT scans

Former American College of Cardiology president Kim Allan Williams, Sr., MD, an ACC delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates, discusses an AMA resolution aimed at improving public awareness of low-dose CT lung cancer exams that can screen for coronary artery calcium at the same time. 

AMA brainstorms on key topics impacting healthcare

"With significantly strengthened penalties, standardized reporting requirements and unprecedented enforcement commitments, the regulatory landscape has dramatically shifted," the AMA wrote. 

cannabis weed marijuana heart health doctor cardiologist

Marijuana use linked to blood vessel damage—impact seen with smoking and edibles

"As cannabis legalization increases, it is crucial to understand the public health and clinical implications of marijuana use," researchers wrote in JAMA Cardiology.

Cuffless blood pressure measurement devices: Convenient, but not ready for clinical use

Cuffless BP measurements could potentially provide significant value for clinicians and patients alike. It is still too early, however, for these technologies to be used in a clinical setting; too many unanswered questions remain.

Interventional radiologist radiology IR genicular artery embolization surgery

Society of Interventional Radiology joins others in urging Medicare payment for high-cost disposables

The resolution urges the AMA to advocate for separate payment for certain services using supplies priced above $500, as well as those containing high-cost equipment. 

Imaging for chest pain: CT- and ICA-first strategies linked to similar long-term health status

These findings present additional evidence that invasive imaging tests are not necessarily more effective when it comes to evaluating patients for chest pain.