The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / ACR Seeks Members’ Help to Boost AMA Representation

ACR Seeks Members’ Help to Boost AMA Representation

September 15, 2015 • By From the College

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Rheumatologists who have not been members of the American Medical Association (AMA), or have let their membership lapse, should strongly consider joining now for 2015 so rheumatology can remain involved in steering the direction of the AMA. Call the AMA at 800-262-3211 and specify that you want to join for 2015, or contact ACR staff at [email protected] for assistance in becoming an AMA member or renewing your membership. If you are already an AMA member, please make sure you have designated the ACR as your representative society. ACR staff can help as well.

You Might Also Like
  • ACR Leverages AMA Representation to Advance Rheumatology Issues
  • The ACR Maintains Seat at the AMA Table, Achieves Successful Resolutions at HOD Meeting
  • ACR Delegates Attend AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting
Explore This Issue
September 2015
Also By This Author
  • Coding Corner Question: Are Brief Phone Calls with Patients Billable?

Why is AMA membership important to rheumatologists? We need your help to maintain rheumatology’s seats at the AMA policymaking body, the House of Delegates, as well as rheumatology’s seat at the table for the RUC and other vital decision-making and informational aspects of organized medicine. The AMA surveys rheumatology’s membership in the AMA annually and adjusts rheumatology’s representation accordingly. Representation in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) is based on the number of ACR members who also maintain a membership with the AMA and the number of joint ACR/AMA members who designate the ACR as their representative society. Rheumatology will receive one delegate per 1,000 members and one for any increment over 1,000. Therefore, it is imperative that all ACR members consider joining the AMA or renewing your membership for 2015.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The ACR has an active and effective delegation to the AMA representing rheumatologists’ interests. At the last meeting in July, the ACR led action on these issues:

ICD-10: The HOD adopted a policy that the AMA will ask CMS and other payers for a safe harbor grace period for the ICD-10 transition, based on existing policy the ACR and partners put in at previous meetings. Additionally, the AMA was directed to aggressively promote this implementation compromise to Congress and CMS (a major new development that came after testimony and an amendment offered by the ACR and others). This has been a major focus of ACR advocacy, specifically with the legislation we supported that was introduced by Rep. Diane Black (H.R. 2247).

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The ACR was successful in having the HOD adopt policy regarding the Value-Based Modifier and Flawed Drug Cost Attribution. The ACR-drafted Resolution 236 asked that the AMA work with CMS to modify VBM cost attribution with regard to drug costs, to ensure the cost calculation does not unfairly disadvantage certain providers. The VBM will remain part of the future Merit-Based Incentive Payment System called for by the MACRA, the legislation that repealed the SGR. Our resolution 236 was co-sponsored by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Gastroenterology and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Pages: 1 2 | Single Page

Filed Under: From the College, Professional Topics Tagged With: AC&R, American Medical Association, CMS, ICD-10, membership, policyIssue: September 2015

You Might Also Like:
  • ACR Leverages AMA Representation to Advance Rheumatology Issues
  • The ACR Maintains Seat at the AMA Table, Achieves Successful Resolutions at HOD Meeting
  • ACR Delegates Attend AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting
  • ACR Delegates Move Rheumatology Concerns Forward at AMA

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)