AMA 2023: New AMA Policy on Medical Practice
Easing the burden of prior authorization has been a priority for the AMA, as well as organized urology. Given technological advances, particularly the recent explosion of augmented intelligence (AI), policy was passed calling for greater regulatory overnight of the use of AI by insurers to provide claims review and authorization of services. This resolution was amended to further call for human review of claims that are denied by the use of AI. Additional policy was passed mandating the AMA to include an estimate of costs associated with prior authorization in the report that is provided to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding practice expenses data and methodology. Policy was also adopted that calls for health plans to have a process in place that will cover, by default, any FDA approved drug and device to overcome barriers in place by prior authorization processes.
To cope with staffing challenges faced by health systems and physician offices, many have turned to incorporating trained overseas virtual assistants as a cost-effective strategy to fill vacant roles. Policy was passed that called for the AMA to support properly trained virtual assistants and to provide formal guidance to physicians regarding best practices for physicians who utilize them to ensure high quality patient care.
Consolidation of physician practices, health systems, and payers have brought new challenges for solo practitioners and independent physician practices. To that end, the AMA will now provide annual reports on consolidation in all aspects of healthcare to assist policymakers and the federal government. Policy calling for the AMA to advocate against antitrust violations as a result of vertical consolidation in the healthcare industry was also passed.
Written by: Ruchika Talwar, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, @RuchikaTalwarMD during the 2023 AMA Annual Meeting, June 9 to June 14