AMA Announces Class Action Lawsuit

The AMA announced a class action lawsuit against WellPoint, the largest health insurer in the US, for conspiring to underpay physicians for out-of-network medical services. This lawsuit comes at the heels of a similar AMA lawsuit against Aetna Health, Inc. and CIGNA Corporation.

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AMA Posts Steps to Challenging Ratings

In response to the physician ratings controversy, the AMA has posted practical steps and advice on how physicians can challenge the ratings given to them by patients.

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Watson Named Executive Director of RSNA

AAMSE member Mark G. Watson was named executive director of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Previous to becoming the executive director, Watson served as the interim executive director of RSNA since September 2008, and for 15 years prior to that, as the assistant executive director for finance and administration.

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NQF Call for Measures

The National Quality Forum issued a call for performance measures seeking to endorse practices that address aspects of care coordination, ensuring patient needs and preferences in healthcare and information-sharing are met over time.

For more information and to participate, click here.

BH Found to be Interfering in Physician Choice

The AMA and Arkansas Medical Society joined with the Arkansas Heart Hospital (a physician-owned specialty facility) in successfully winning a lawsuit against the Baptist Health system for intruding on the patient-physician relationship and violating public policy. Baptist Health's credentialing plan disallowed staff doctors with interests in competing hospitals to have privileges and their facilities.

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Massachusetts Gift Ban Rules Approved

Massachusetts officials gave final approval for the rules banning pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers from providing gifts and other perks to physicians.

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To read the complete rules, click here

Wal-Mart Reportedly Introducing Low-Cost EHRs

A leaked story to the New York Times reported that Wal-Mart has teamed with Dell, Sam's Club, and software company eClinicalWorks to offer doctors low-cost electronic health records and practice management systems to physicians nationwide.

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Physicians Struggling in Recession

A new article in the Miami Herald details the difficulties some physicians are having during the current recession, and further explains how the economy affects their practices.

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Obama Health Care Summit Live on CSPAN

President Barak Obama's White House health care summit will be shown live, in its entirety, on CSPAN3 at 1 PM Eastern.

The summit which consists of 120 invited guests, includes doctors, insurers, business owners, patients and lawmakers with a wide range of solutions to fixing the health care system. Both Democrats and Republicans have been invited and the discussion is expected to be lively.

For the live stream of CSPAN3, click here.

For related coverage:

Agenda & Listing of the Participants - NRO Online

Obama said to be open-minded on health-care change - Associated Press

Health care summit at White House a first step to overhaul - USA Today

Sebelius Nominated as HHS

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius was officially nominated by President Barack Obama as the Secretary of Health and Human Services today.

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Nominations for AAMSE Board of Directors

Deadline: Thursday, March 12

The AAMSE Nominating Committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Ken Slaw, PhD, is calling for nominations for candidates for positions on the Board of Directors. Deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 12. A total of four positions are open: president-elect and secretary-treasurer for 2009-10, and two director positions for 2009-12. All AAMSE members who are full-time employees of a qualifying professional organization or society are eligible to be nominated, and self-nominations are strongly encouraged. Please contact either Ken Slaw or Becky Brandt, executive director, to nominate yourself or a colleague; or send your nominations to the AAMSE Nominating Committee at aamse@aamse.org. Once we receive a nomination, the individual will be contacted and additional information will be requested.

Ken M. Slaw, PhD, Chair
American Academy of Pediatrics

Karen J. Collishaw
American Academy of Dermatology Association

Allison Peterson
Kansas Medical Society

Susie M. Pouliot
Idaho Medical Association

Cynthia S. Burger, CAE
Broome, Delaware, Otsego
And Tompkins County (NY) Medical Societies

Jo Bryson, CAE
Oregon Medical Society

Mike D. Abrams
Iowa Medical Society

Nancy J. Adams, MSM
Monroe County (NY) Medical Society

George Dudley, MBA
Massachusetts Medical Society

Shelly B. Rodrigues, CAE
California Academy of Family Physicians