Government Affairs

2011 PITCH Date Set

Brenda Williams (CMS) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:35:08 GMT

The TMA will host just one PITCH Day session in 2011, with the idea of filling Legislative Plaza with hundreds of physicians and supporters.

New Laws Impact Physicians; May Require Action or Reporting

Brenda Williams (CMS) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:45:45 GMT

New laws passed by the 2010 General Assembly may require action or reporting by physicians. (member login required)

U.S. House Considers Bill to Avert Medicare Pay Cuts Thru 2014

Brenda Williams (CMS) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:09:22 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote next week on a proposal to avert the 21-percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect on June 1.

TMA Commits to “Medicare Meltdown” Ad Campaign

Matt Ames (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:57:01 GMT

The TMA has committed $1,000 to a national online advertising campaign promoting the “Medicare Meltdown” petition drive.

AMA Urges Continued Health System, Medicare Reforms

Randall Kaufman (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:53:30 GMT

The AMA has sent a new letter to President Obama and members of Congress, encouraging them to continue efforts to enact meaningful health system reforms this year.

AMA Releases Virtual Town Hall Series on Health Reform

Randall Kaufman (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:53:30 GMT

Sept. 1 2009 | AMA News Release | In its ongoing efforts to provide America’s patients and physicians with the facts about health system reform, the American Medical Association recently took to the streets to debunk myths and answer patients’ questions on health reform in a new Virtual Town Hall video series being shared on the Internet.

Health Reform: A TN Perspective on AMA Activity

Randall Kaufman (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:53:29 GMT

Tennessee’s delegation to the AMA has chosen to support actions to keep the health reform process moving.

TMA Signs Letter to Spkr Pelosi Urging Medicare Fix

Randall Kaufman (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:53:29 GMT

The TMA has signed onto a letter urging Congress to fix the Medicare/SGR payment dilemma by pasing HR 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act.

AMA Hails Passage of Health Reform Bill

Randall Kaufman (CMS) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:53:28 GMT

The following statement is attributable to AMA President J. James Rohack, MD: “The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program.

TN Launches Virtual Toolkit for Providers on E-Health Information Exchange

Matt Ames (CMS) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:02:48 GMT

A federal initiative aims to encourage participation in electronic health information exchange by providing information about privacy and security to healthcare providers.

TMA Would Oppose TennCare-Modeled Federal Public Option

Russell Miller (CMS) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:00:24 GMT

While the health reform debate over a possible public insurance option is just beginning, the TMA does not want to see the same mistakes made in TennCare repeated at the national level.

Lawmaker Joins Forces with AMA on Balance-Billing Legislation

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:18:44 GMT

Apr 1, 2009 | AMA News Release | The AMA recently worked with Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA), to facilitate the introduction of legislation that would allow physicians to balance-bill for the full value of their services under Medicare and for certain non-Medicare patients.

AMA to Senate: Make Health Insurer Payments More Transparent

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:17:42 GMT

Apr 1, 2009 | AMA News Release | The AMA testified on March 26 to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on the need for increased insurer payment transparency.

Permanent Medicare Physician Payment Reform Needed This Year

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:16:21 GMT

Mar 18, 2009 | AMA News Release | Permanent Medicare physician payment reform is needed this year to ensure long-term access to care for seniors, and the realistic forecast of future Medicare spending on physician services in the federal budget makes the reform economically feasible.

AMA Participates in White House Summit on Health Care

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:15:04 GMT

Mar 18, 2009 | AMA News Release | AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, represented the nation’s physicians and the AMA during a health care reform summit hosted by President Barack Obama March 5 at the White House.

Update: TMA Member Alert: New Laws Impacting Physicians

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:13:24 GMT

Government Affairs | Jul 1, 2009 | The following bills passed by the 2009 General Assembly may be of special interest to physicians since they may require action or reporting.

Get AMA Details on Health System Reform

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:11:37 GMT

AMA News | Jul 1, 2009 | The AMA recently distributed to members of its House of Delegates (HOD) a message kit that highlights the AMA’s efforts on health system reform.

AMA Cheers Passage of SCHIP Reauthorization Act

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:04:40 GMT

AMA News Release | Feb 4, 2009 | The AMA’s Washington Office is happy to report that, shortly after 1:00 pm Eastern time on Wednesday, the House approved the Senate-passed version of H.R. 2, the "Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009," by a bipartisan vote of 290-135.

AMA Supports Obama’s Healthcare Reform Principles

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:03:24 GMT

AMA News Release | Apr 16, 2009 | This week, the American Medical Association sent a letter to President Barack Obama offering physicians’ support for the administration’s eight principles for healthcare reform and outlining the association’s framework for action.

AMPAC Announces 2010 Political Education Programs

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:53:10 GMT

February 19-21 2010, AMPAC (the AMA’s Political Action Committee) will host the annual Candidate Workshop in Pentagon City, VA. The workshop is designed for AMA members and their spouses who are considering

Update: Smoking Surcharge Delayed for TN State Employees

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:47:54 GMT

NASHVILLE (AP) | The State House has voted to postpone a $50 a month health insurance surcharge for state employees who smoke. he House voted May 21 to delay the measure for a year at the urging of Democratic Rep. John Litz of Morristown.

More Wins for TMA in Legislative Session

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:43:57 GMT

TMA Staff | Jun 15, 2009 | The TMA continued to rack up legislative victories in the 2009 General Assembly session in its final week. Important gains were made in several of the TMA’s priority areas – liability reform,

Obama Asks AMA to Support Health System Overhaul

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:15 GMT

Associated Press | Jun 15, 2009 | President Barack Obama pushed hard Monday for a health care overhaul, saying the system is "a ticking bomb" for the budget that could force America to "go the way

AMA Outlines Initiatives to White House to Help Slow Increases in Health Spending

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:34:05 GMT

June 2, 2009 | AMA Outlines Initiatives to White House to Help Slow Increases in Health Spending Statement attributable to AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD “The American Medical Association (AMA) joined with five other organizations

Health IT Stimulus Dollars Available to TN Physicians, Hospitals

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:22:30 GMT

Apr 22, 2009 | The pressure is on for states and providers to adopt health information technology and the recently-passed economic stimulus package provides at least partial funding.

Medicare Advantage Payment Update Announced

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:19:51 GMT

AMA News Release | Apr 21, 2009 | In a sharp contrast with recent years when payment updates for Medicare Advantage plans have ranged from 3.5 percent to more than seven percent, the Obama Administration announced a final Medicare Advantage (MA) payment update of less than one percent for 2010.

AMA Supports SGR Fix in House and Senate Budget Resolutions

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:16:33 GMT

AMA News Release | Apr 21, 2009 | The AMA is working to ensure that a final Congressional budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 addresses the Medicare/SGR dilemma.

AMA supports Bill Allowing FDA Regulation of Tobacco

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:11:53 GMT

AMA News Release | Apr 15, 2009 | The AMA stated its support for recent action by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

TMA Leaders Visit Congress as Part of AMA Advocacy Conference(2)

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:50:57 GMT

Mar 10, 2009
TMA Staff / AMA News Release

AMA members made the rounds in Washington, DC, this week to carry medicine's message to Tennessee Congress members as the debate continues over healthcare reform, monies for health IT establishment, and Medicare funding.

Direction but Few Details on Obama Health Reform Plan at AMA

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:57 GMT

President Barack Obama gave direction but few details on his vision for reforming health care in America in his speech to the American Medical Association.

AMA Reports Agreement on HR 3200

Matt Ames (CMS) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:25:10 GMT

Last night, TMA received breaking news from AMA concerning the agreement between Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and the leader of the Blue Dog Democrats on HR 3200.

Physicians Challenged by TN Lawmaker

Matt Ames (CMS) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:06:16 GMT

A longtime supporter of organized medicine in the Tennessee General Assembly made unscripted, impromptu comments to visiting physicians recently about the importance of physician advocacy.

MD Congressman’s Texas-Style MLR Bill a “Gift” to the Nation

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:33:03 GMT

With Texans marking the fourth anniversary of the state’s historic 2003 medical liability reforms, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD, R Texas.

Crunch Time on Medicare Payment Issue

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:31:36 GMT

Time is running out to stop a steep 10.1 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2008. Lawmakers need to hear from physicians

AMA to Congress: Fix Medicare Physician Payment Formula

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:24:53 GMT

The current Medicare physician payment formula is fatally flawed and must be replaced with one that reflects the reality of practice cost increases, the American Medical Association (AMA) testified to Congress’ Senate Finance committee on March 1. The current Medicare physician payment formula is based on the ups and downs of the economy, not the health care needs of America’s seniors.

Slots Still Available for AMPAC Political Training

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:02:43 GMT

Slots are still available for AMPAC’s 2009 Campaign School, slated for April 15-19 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, VA, near Reagan Washington National Airport. AMPAC’s political training programs have been held for over 20 years and provide unequaled political training for AMA members and friends of medicine interested in seeking public office or in working to elect others.

President Obama Releases Budget Outline

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:01:50 GMT

In preliminary budget documents released on February 26, the Obama Administration proposes to create a $634 billion “reserve fund” over the next decade to finance expanded health insurance coverage and other healthcare investments.

E-Prescribing Training Set for Nashville Area

Matt Ames (CMS) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:01:07 GMT

A statewide campaign to get healthcare providers ready to issue patient prescriptions electronically continues next week as Tennessee’s Office of e-Health Initiatives hosts two electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) training sessions for Nashville-area healthcare providers.

TMA Wins New Laws on Peer Review, MLR, Doc Shopping

Russell Miller (CMS) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:26:09 GMT

TMA Wins New Laws on Peer Review, MLR, Doc Shopping As the General Assembly session continues in Nashville, the TMA celebrates legislative successes in several areas so far this year. Governor Phil Bredesen recently signed into law the following TMA

New Doctor Shopping Law in Effect July 1

Matt Ames — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:59:59 GMT

New Doctor Shopping Law in Effect July 1 A new Tennessee law effective July 1, 2009, requires physicians to report patients to local law enforcement for illegally obtaining controlled substances. For all the details on when a report must be

Antitrust Laws a Hurdle to Health Care Overhaul

Matt Ames — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:52:44 GMT

Antitrust Laws a Hurdle to Health Care Overhaul By ROBERT PEAR, The New York Times Published May 26, 2009 WASHINGTON — President Obama’s campaign to cut health costs by $2 trillion over the next decade, announced with fanfare two weeks