The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Learn more about changes to COVID isolation guidelines and COVID vaccine dose schedule.
The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Learn more about changes to COVID isolation guidelines and COVID vaccine dose schedule.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines program for physicians affected by Change Healthcare outage to apply for 30 days’ pay.
Change Healthcare experiences a cyber security issue impacting prior procedure authorizations, electronic prescribing and other patient care functions.
Otolaryngologists can earn CME with these clinical challenges on unusual presentations of dysphagia, vestibular dysfunction, vasculitis and more.
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The timing of your application and your readiness are two key factors in determining when you should take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Get answers to frequently asked questions about med school requirements, the application process, the MCAT and more.
Medical resident loan repayment will resume in October. What do residents need to do to make sure they are prepared? Industry experts outline the path ahead.
The transition to residency can be costly. Is a loan to help cover the expenses associated with moving to start your career worth it? Learn more with the AMA.
The latest updates on the Change Healthcare cyberattack and more in the latest Advocacy Update spotlight.
Congress on verge of passing Medicare physician payment legislation and more in the latest Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update.
AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference (MAC) attendees can now access special savings on UpToDate®.
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Download and review the PDF list of pending reports from the Board and the councils, and submit comments and feedback.
 
In the March 1 update, the speakers provide resolution submission deadlines for the 2024 Annual Meeting, guidelines for HOD election group interviews, a reminder about the newly consolidated election policy and an update to the agenda.
Apply for a leadership position by submitting the required documentation by the deadline.
Download PDFs of council reports that have proposed strategies establishing the AMA vision for health system reform to cover the uninsured and expand health insurance coverage and choice.
Representatives for the YPS Assembly represent the interests of young physicians and are voting members. Apply to be a member of the governing council.
Find highlights about MSS activities and how its members advocate for students in education and the medical profession.
The 2024 International Conference on Physician Health will be held Oct. 17–Oct. 19, 2024. Learn more.
This two-day boot camp Sept. 23-24, 2024, is designed for clinical and operational change agents looking to eliminate unnecessary work and free up more time to focus on what matters most–patient care.
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On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Change Healthcare began experiencing a cyber security issue and isolated its systems to prevent further impact. Optum, UnitedHealthcare, and UnitedHealth Group (UHG) systems were not affected by the issue, according to information provided by UHG. UHG has indicated they have taken appropriate action to contain the incident so that customers and partners do not need to sever network connections and disrupt vital services. Cybersecurity experts and the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) suggest taking these steps to protect your networks:
As part of your risk evaluation, health care organizations should consider the impacts of severing connectivity to Optum, which includes but is not limited to loss of prior procedure authorizations, electronic prescribing and other patient care functions. Ultimately, your organization should make its own determination on whether or not to block Optum specifically while considering all the risks and consequences of doing so. Change Healthcare is posting updates on the status of the cyberattack.
If you would like to share information about experiences stemming from the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident, please respond to this survey.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced a new opportunity for physicians impacted by the cyber-attack and resulting disruptions with Change Healthcare to request advanced Medicare payments to help with cash flow disruptions. The details of the program, terms and the steps needed to apply can be found in the links below.
The AMA sent a letter (PDF) urging CMS to provide financial relief from MIPS penalties for physicians and other clinicians impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
View the AMA’s statement expressing the need for advanced funds to physicians following UHG’s announcement outlining the restoration timeline for the Change Healthcare claims system. The AMA also called for full transparency and security assurances from UHG.
CMS is taking steps to assist physicians in the wake of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attack.
The AMA credits the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS for responding to the urgent situation caused by the Change Healthcare cyber security incident and the unprecedent disruptions to medical practices and access to care. The newly announced flexibilities that have been put in place are a welcome first step, but the AMA is urging CMS to recognize that physicians are experiencing financial struggles that threaten the viability of many medical practices. Many physician practices operate on thin margins, and the AMA is especially concerned about the impact on small and/or rural practices, as well as those that care for the underserved. The AMA is urging federal officials to go above and beyond what has been put in place and include financial assistance such as advanced payments for physicians.
As the cyber-takedown of Change Healthcare has forced medical practices to go without revenue for a twelfth day, the AMA urged U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (PDF) Secretary Xavier Becerra to use all its available authorities to ensure that physician practices can continue to function, and patients can continue to receive the care that they need.
A press release was issued announcing the AMA letter sent to HHS Secretary Becerra.
United Health Group (UHG) has created a website to provide updates on the cyber-attack that has impacted Change Healthcare and several of UHG’s systems. The website and the information it contains is provided by UHG and not by the AMA. The AMA has not reviewed the information for accuracy or content.
Information on the Change Healthcare Cyber Response.
Actionable next steps for impacted medical practices include (but are not limited to) the following:
In response to active exploitation of a cybersecurity vulnerability, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have released a joint announcement on what is believed to be the cyber-attack that impacted Change Healthcare. The advisory details the attack and provides information for medical practices and information technology staff to help strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity.
AMA has curated resources and has tips for physicians and health care staff to protect patient health records and other data from cyberattacks. 
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