For the first time since the pandemic’s onset, hundreds of physicians, medical society staffers and others met in person in a bitterly divided Washington, D.C., for the AMA National Advocacy Conference.

This year’s legislative and regulatory priorities are crystal clear, driven by the urgent need to protect patients’ access to high-quality care and help physicians who have put so much on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My latest for the AMA. The whole shebang.

The AMA and nearly 120 physician organizations are strongly supporting proposed reforms of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

The physician organizations sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure thanking her and urging the agency to finalize proposed reforms that target the inappropriate use of prior-authorization requirements by Medicare Advantage plans to delay, deny and disrupt the provision of medically necessary care to patients.

My latest for the AMA. The whole shebang.