The American Medical Association highlighted nine top issues for physicians to watch in the year ahead.
The following nine items were designated by the AMA to make a deep impact on physicians' patients and practices.
1. Medicare reform following the elimination of the sustainable growth rate. The AMA said it will continue to help provide guidance to shape the Merit-Based Incentive Payment system that is under development.
2. The EHR meaningful use program will continue to move forward, while the AMA continues to call for a reset of Stage 3 to improve flexibility, expand patient engagement and set the stage for interoperability and innovation.
3. Insurance mergers could significantly change the health insurance market, and reduced competition could damage healthcare access, quality and affordability, according to the AMA.
4. Provider networks and balance billing will continue to be a top issue as networks narrow and out-of-pocket costs grow. The AMA pledged to continue to seek solutions to surprise out-of-network bills and patient access, while preserving physician and payer rights.
5. Prescription drug abuse and addiction continues to be a major issue in the face of a mounting opioid overdose epidemic. The AMA called for prescription drug monitoring programs, evidence-based prescribing, work to reduce the stigma of substance use disorder, enhanced access to treatment and enhanced availability of drugs to reverse overdose.
6. Graduate medical education funding and student relief debt continue to be a top item for physicians as funding is at risk of being cut by Congress, according to the AMA.
7. Prescription drug costs pose a challenge for patients and physicians must continue to advocate for reducing costs and look for solutions to make this possible, according to the AMA.
8. Health data security threats are on the rise and are expected to increase this year, according to the AMA. Physicians must ensure appropriate protections are in place for sharing and data storage.
9. Telemedicine is already a growing trend, but will continue to ramp up in use this year as the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact moves ahead, according to the AMA.
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