Advocacy Update Archive

The American Medical Association advocates for patients and physicians at the federal and state levels on key health care issues. Find the full record of the AMA’s Advocacy Update news stories below by date, starting with the previous month.

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2024

April

April 5, 2024: Scope of practice expansion efforts opposed across the country April 19, 2024: Informal AMA survey underscores ongoing, devastating impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack on physician practices

March

March 8, 2024: The latest updates on the Change Healthcare cyberattack March 22, 2024: Change Healthcare cyberattack: What physicians need to know

February

Feb. 9, 2024: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Feb. 23, 2024: Highlights from the 2024 AMA National Advocacy Conference

January

Jan. 12, 2024: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Jan. 26, 2024: National Advocacy Update

2023

December

Dec. 1, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Dec. 15, 2023: 100+ scope of practice wins secured in 2023

November

Nov. 3, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Nov. 17, 2023: Highlights from the 2023 AMA Interim Meeting

October

Oct. 6, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Oct. 20, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update

September

Sept. 8, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Sept. 22, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update

August

Aug. 11, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update Aug. 25, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update

July

July 14, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update July 28, 2023: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update

June

June 2, 2023: Cigna announces implementation delay of burdensome modifier 25 policy June 16, 2023: Learn how you can get involved in the fight to #FixMedicareNow June 30, 2023: Majority of Congress urges CMS to finalize and strengthen prior authorization regulations

May

May 5, 2023: MIPS hardship exception application to avoid a penalty now available May 19, 2023: New “Medicare basics” series offers background for advocates

April

April 7, 2023: CMS final rule moves to right-size prior authorization in Medicare Advantage April 21, 2023: Physician organizations applaud introduction of Medicare payment legislation

March

March 10, 2023: Bipartisan Conrad 30 legislation introduced in the Senate March 24, 2023: Prior Authorization Survey

February

Feb. 10, 2023: U.S. District Court rules in favor of physicians for second time in legal disputes over administration’s implementation of No Surprises Act Feb. 24, 2023: CMS takes big steps to fix prior authorization in Medicare Advantage

January

Jan. 13, 2023: National Advocacy Update Jan. 27, 2023: Buprenorphine prescribing now available to all DEA-registered physicians

2022

December

Dec. 2, 2022: National Advocacy Update Dec. 16, 2022: The final countdown to Medicare physician payment cuts

November

Nov. 11, 2022: What’s happening with Medicare payment now?

October

Oct. 14, 2022: National Advocacy Update Oct. 28, 2022: Webinar: AMA grassroots update on Medicare and prior authorization

September

Sept. 2, 2022: Biden Administration issues Final Rules on No Surprises Act Sept. 16, 2022: AMA 2022 Overdose Report shows worsening epidemic, need for all-hands approach Sept. 30, 2022: Tell Congress to stop Medicare payment cuts

August

Aug. 5, 2022: August recess call to action Aug. 19, 2022: Bill addresses 3 major health issues, but not Medicare pay reform

July

July 8, 2022: AMA welcomes HHS privacy guidance in wake of Dobbs decision July 22, 2022: Across-the-board Medicare physician pay cuts are wrong way forward

June

June 10, 2022: AMA renews call for gun violence prevention in wake of Tulsa shooting June 24, 2022: Highlights from the 2022 AMA Annual Meeting

May

May 13, 2022: How Medicare Advantage plans wrongly deny prior auth requests May 27, 2022: Medicare physician payment reform principles call for a rational payment system

April

April 1, 2022: Honoring Dr. Lorna Breen April 15, 2022: Provider Relief Fund requests for late reporting April 29, 2022: Major wins for scope of practice

March

March 4, 2022: AMA successfully urged CMS to re-open 2021 MIPS hardship exemption March 18, 2022: Telehealth flexibilities assured for the bulk of 2022

February

Feb. 4, 2022: AMA asks Congress to hold insurers accountable for nearly 15 years of parity failures Feb. 18, 2022: Physicians report prior authorization hurts workforce productivity

January

Jan. 7, 2022: AMA's federal advocacy agenda for 2022 Jan. 21, 2022: National Advocacy Update

2021

December

Dec. 3, 2021: No Surprises Act regulation Dec. 17, 2021: National Advocacy Update

November

Nov. 5, 2021: Final rule for 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule Nov. 19, 2021: National Advocacy Update

October

Oct. 8, 2021: Health insurance competition study Oct. 22, 2021: National Advocacy Update

September

Sept. 10, 2021: National Advocacy Update Sept. 24, 2021: National Advocacy Update

August

Aug. 13, 2021: 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule summary Aug. 27, 2021: National Advocacy Update

July

July 2, 2021: National Advocacy Update July 16, 2021: Scope of practice—state legislative roundup July 30, 2021: National Advocacy Update

June

June 4, 2021: National Advocacy Update June 18, 2021: National Advocacy Update

May

May 7, 2021: National Advocacy Update May 21, 2021: National Advocacy Update

April

April 9, 2021: National Advocacy Update April 23, 2021: Strong privacy guardrails are needed for vaccine credentials

March

March 12, 2021: National Advocacy Update March 26, 2021: Progress made to extend sequester moratorium

February

Feb. 5, 2021: Biden Administration executive orders and proclamations Feb. 12, 2021: The state of scope expansion in the states Feb. 19, 2021: Telling Congress to support H.R. 315, the "Medicare Sequester COVID Moratorium Act" Feb. 26, 2021: The top issues from the AMA National Advocacy Conference

January

Jan. 8, 2021: What’s ahead for AMA advocacy this year Jan. 15, 2021: Why physician advocacy at all levels will be key in 2021 Jan. 22, 2021: Biden's first moves will aid pandemic fight, boost global health Jan. 29, 2021: A sneak peek at the AMA National Advocacy Conference

2020

December

Dec. 4, 2020: 2021 Medicare Final Rule: E/M improvements, budget neutrality cuts to payments Dec. 11, 2020: FDA guidance on COVID-19 vaccines emergency use authorization Dec. 18, 2020: FDA guidance on COVID-19 vaccines emergency use authorization

November

Nov. 6, 2020: FBI warns of "imminent cybercrime threat" to hospitals and health care providers Nov. 13, 2020: Tell Congress now is not the time to cut Medicare payments Nov. 20, 2020: Highlights from the November 2020 AMA Special Meeting

October

Oct. 2, 2020: COVID-19 vaccine development: New AMA webinar series starts next week Oct. 9, 2020: Avoiding cuts to 2021 physician payment top priority in letter to CMS Oct. 16, 2020: Competition declined in majority of health insurance markets where it is most scarce Oct. 23, 2020: Physicians urge Nebraska to reject proposed scope expansions Oct. 30, 2020: New AMA survey finds physician practice viability under threat

September

Sept. 4, 2020: Hit on key pandemic relief measures by getting some facetime with Congress Sept. 18, 2020: AMA urges caution about limitations of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 Sept. 25, 2020: Physicians to receive congressional relief during pandemic work

August

Aug. 7, 2020: Details of the 2021 Physician Payment Schedule Proposed Rule Aug. 14, 2020: Medicare's pandemic lifeline to physicians about to come due Aug. 21, 2020: Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostic testing Aug. 28, 2020: AMA asks for increased transparency on COVID-19 vaccine development

July

July 10, 2020: 11 steps to begin tackling police reform and racial injustice July 23, 2020: New AMA report shows an evolving and deadlier overdose epidemic July 31, 2020: Senate Republicans unveil details of fourth COVID-19 relief package

June

June 5, 2020: Calling for additional relief for physician practices in the next COVID-19 bill June 12, 2020: HHS will distribute funds to physicians who participate in Medicaid and CHIP June 19, 2020: AMA affirms its commitment to defending LGBTQ+ rights June 26, 2020: Prior auth survey findings underscore need for legislative action

May

May 1, 2020: Next steps the nation must take on COVID-19 testing May 8, 2020: AMA fighting for IMG physicians on several fronts May 15, 2020: AMA urges caution about limitations of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 May 22, 2020: CMS addresses physician concerns on CARES Act fund distribution May 29, 2020: Updated CDC serology testing guidelines follow AMA's recommendations

April

April 10, 2020: Financial assistance for physician practices provided in the CARES Act April 17, 2020: COVID-19 Special Edition April 24, 2020: Highlights of this week's new supplemental COVID-19 bill

March

March 12, 2020: Emergency COVID-19 funding approved March 27, 2020: What's in the stimulus package

February

Feb. 14, 2020: Physicians are "making waves for the purpose of change" Feb. 28, 2020: New resource will help physicians integrate record sharing into daily operations

January

Jan. 17, 2020: Physicians' voices needed in state legislatures in 2020 Jan. 30, 2020: Physicians respond to request for feedback on Medicare scope of practice

2019

December

Dec. 6, 2019: Two rules aim at transparency in health care pricing Dec. 20, 2019: House and Senate reach agreement on federal funding package for 2020

November

Nov. 14, 2019: 5 things doctors need to know about 2020 Medicare fee schedule

October

Oct. 4, 2019: Highlights of CMS' 2020 physician fee schedule and QPP proposed rule Oct. 18, 2019: Surprise medical bills: Physicians want market-based fixes Oct. 31, 2019: Health at the border: Federal court protects rights of immigrant kids

September

Sept. 6, 2019: The latest on the fight to fix prior authorization Sept. 20, 2019: 10 states with the least competitive health insurance markets

August

Aug. 8, 2019: Medicare pay should recognize value of surgeons' office visits Aug. 23, 2019: High court should hear case on site skirting gun background checks

July

July 12, 2019: Congressional efforts to address surprise billing continue July 25, 2019: Scrutiny of CVS-Aetna deal shows AMA's powerful impact

June

June 14, 2019: CVS-Aetna merger: Not yet a final deal June 27, 2019: Funding boost needed to close treatment gap for patients with opioid use disorder

May

May 3, 2019: Physician proposals inspire new HHS payment models for primary care May 18, 2019: Employed physicians now exceed those who own their practices May 31, 2019: AMA Opioid Task Force recommendations offer roadmap to policymakers

April

April 4, 2019: Physicians score a win in bid to fix prior authorization April 18, 2019: FDA and CDC issue clarifications on opioid prescribing guidelines

March

March 7, 2019: AMA challenges restrictive Title X changes in court March 21, 2019: Insurers' progress on fixing prior authorization is disappointingly slow

February

Feb. 22, 2019: Highlights from the 2019 National Advocacy Conference Feb. 7, 2019: AMA to court: Illegal firearm sales are public health emergency

January

Jan. 10, 2019: Issues to watch in the 116th Congress Jan. 24, 2019: Addressing the opioid epidemic in Colorado: Progress and opportunities

2018

December

Dec. 13, 2018: What states can learn from Pennsylvania's response to the opioid epidemic

November

Nov. 1, 2018: Trump administration announces new proposal to lower drug prices Nov. 15, 2018: 2019 Medicare final rules include QPP changes and advance digital medicine Nov. 29, 2018: Majority of commercial health insurance markets are highly concentrated

October

Oct. 4, 2018: Congress passes new opioid package Oct. 18, 2018: Pennsylvania ends prior authorization for opioid treatment

September

Sept. 6, 2018: Doctors favor less documentation, oppose E/M proposal Sept. 20, 2018: Proposed Medicare QPP rule: Top 7 things to know

August

Aug. 9, 2018: AMA urges DOJ to block CVS-Aetna merger Aug. 23, 2018: H-1B backlog affects patients in need

July

July 12, 2018: 2017 MIPS reports open for physician review July 26, 2018: CMS releases proposed 2019 Medicare payment rule

June

June 15, 2018: Top stories from 2018 AMA Annual Meeting June 28, 2018: Anticompetitive CVS-Aetna merger should be blocked

May

May 3, 2018: CMS proposes overhaul of the Meaningful Use program May 17, 2018: Trump Administration releases drug pricing blueprint May 31, 2018: AMA fights to preserve the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship

April

April 5, 2018: HHS should withdraw proposal on health care conscience rights April 19, 2018: Physicians to CMS: Shorten 2018 MIPS reporting period

March

March 8, 2018: AMA, Anthem try new tack: Working together March 22, 2018: Physician survey: Prior authorization delays timely care

February

Feb. 9, 2018: Congress approves fifth spending bill, including important health provisions Feb. 22, 2018: Action to address gun violence is long overdue

January

Jan. 11, 2018: Each physician creates 17 jobs, nearly 12.6 million total Jan. 25, 2018: Physicians, payers collaborate on prior-authorization relief

2017

December

Dec. 14, 2017: Pick your pace for 2017 MIPS reporting Dec. 28, 2017: Tax bill enacted; repeals ACA individual mandate

November

Nov. 3, 2017: Health insurance markets are highly concentrated, new report reveals Nov. 16, 2017: 2018 another transition year for Quality Payment Program Nov. 30, 2017: Stay on track for 2017 MIPS reporting

October

Oct. 5, 2017: Physicians protected from health plan credit card fees Oct. 19, 2017: Patients pay price for ending cost-sharing reduction payments

September

Sept. 7, 2017: "Dreamers" bolster physician workforce, should be allowed to stay Sept. 21, 2017: Dashboard tracks CMS moves toward regulatory relief

August

Aug. 10, 2017: Customizable MIPS tool helps physicians build QPP strategy Aug. 24, 2017: QPP rule should be simpler, more flexible

July

July 13, 2017: Senate revisions unveiled; AMA keeps focus on patient impact July 27, 2017: The skinny on partial repeal: It would unravel individual market

June

June 1, 2017: Physician-owned practices dip below 50 percent June 16, 2017: AMA launches opioid education microsite June 29, 2017: CMS proposes more flexibility, transition time for QPP's 2nd year

May

May 4, 2017: Anthem-Cigna merger threatens innovation, appeals court finds May 18, 2017: Anthem ends pursuit of Cigna deal that threatened patient care

April

April 6, 2017: CMS delays reporting deadline for physician office-based laboratories April 20, 2017: Time is short for critical action to stabilize individual market

March

March 9, 2017: American Health Care Act does not align with AMA health reform principles March 23, 2017: Outcome of House health reform bill uncertain

February

Feb. 9, 2017: Physician efforts take down insurance Goliaths Feb. 23, 2017: Clinical technology in the age of the QPP