Access to coverage and records; changes in Medicare, and issues arising from opioid use, prescription costs, and regulatory changes lead the coming year’s list of biggest challenges to medical practitioners, the AMA said recently.
Leading the list are concerns over access to health insurance coverage for millions of Americans posed by the incoming presidential administration’s professed plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The AMA recently addressed a letter to Congressional leaders, stipulating the need for a viable replacement program and suggesting affordability, access and choice.
Keeping its eye on the transition to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) law enacted via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in October 2016, the AMA pledged to keep practitioners apprised of the many details.
Reminding members that deaths resulting from opioid use have been increasing, the association highlighted the need to reverse that trend.
With unpredictable prescription pricing concerning consumers, the AMA kicked off a grassroots program in late 2016 called TruthinRx.org to solicit information from patients based on their experiences obtaining prescribed medicines.
Additionally, electronic records require a higher degree of interoperability, the association said, as medical personnel lose time that could be spent on direct patient interaction by struggling with electronic health records that prove difficult to navigate. The AMA acknowledged that much progress was achieved in late 2016 when two major industry organizations (Carequality and CommonWell) committed to better connectivity, but said more work lies ahead.
Finally, the AMA stressed that physicians still endure too much of the burden of regulatory-related tasks, placing doctors at risk for inefficiency and possibly burnout.
“The evolving health care system needs easier enrollment, more rational program integrity rules and, overall, fewer reporting requirements,” AMA Wire writer Troy Parks said, adding that all six issues “require a strong physician voice present in the conversation.”
