Year: 2019
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ALAPAC Ends with Record Year!
Last week, ALAPAC capped off its FY 2018-2019 fundraising campaign on a high note. Although we narrowly missed our total fundraising goal, ALAPAC set multiple new giving records thanks to the generosity of Alabama physicians. In total, nearly 120 physicians gave more than the standard amount of $250! Specifically, 10 physicians contributed $1,000 or…
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ALAPAC Ends FY2019 on a High Note
Over the past few months, ALAPAC has been in the midst of its summer fundraising campaign, seeking to raise $75k in 75 days. This week, both the summer campaign and the 2019 giving cycle came to a close. First and foremost, thank you to all the physicians who chose to contribute to ALAPAC this year!…
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Alabama Hospitals Want to Limit Physician In-Office Procedures
The Alabama Hospital Association (ALAHA) submitted a letter to a state health agency this week complaining of increasing instances of physicians performing interventional procedures in their offices instead of in acute care hospitals. The ALAHA letter states “We strongly believe most interventional procedures should be done in a general acute care hospital setting.” It further states…
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Sign-on Letter: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act
September 9, 2019 Dear Members of Congress: The undersigned patient, physician, health care professional, and other health care stakeholder organizations strongly support the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 (H.R. 3107) recently introduced by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS), and Ami Bera, MD (D-CA). This bipartisan…
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Send Us Examples of Misleading Health Advertising
In 2019, the Medical Association drafted and supported, and will be supporting again in 2020, specific “truth in advertising” legislation in Alabama to prohibit misleading health care advertising and require all licensed health professionals to clearly communicate their credentials to patients. These are critical elements to increasing patient education. Thanks to those who’ve already…
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First Impressions
In the last few years, healthcare providers have come to realize the effect of consumerism on their practice. Consumers increasingly view healthcare as a commodity to be compared and shopped. Social media has allowed patients to share experiences, good and bad. Online reviews are visible on many websites, it is now more likely for consumers…
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Alabama Hospitals File Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors
Hospitals experience significant financial and operational harm as opioid crisis continues EVERGREEN, Ala., Sept. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — After two decades of providing frontline care in response to the opioid crisis, a group of 21 Alabama hospitals have filed a civil lawsuit in Conecuh County Circuit Court against the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of opioid-based drugs.…
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Congress is Tackling Surprise Billing Legislation
12th hour negotiations are taking place in Congress to get Surprise Billing legislation passed before the end of the year. The Medical Association has been engaged on this issue since the beginning of the year advocating for a fair independent dispute resolution process to resolve out of network payment disputes. However the insurance industry has…
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Guidance on Practice and Ethical Issues
The Medical Association’s Office of General Counsel can help guide members on certain practice and ethical issues. The Office is comprised of the General Counsel, Cheairs Porter, and Paralegal, Angela Barentine. The General Counsel is the chief legal advisor to the Board of Censors, and provides legal advice daily to the Executive Director. Mr. Porter,…
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Op-ed: Congress Must End Surprise Medical Billing by Aimee Walsh, M.D.
Congress Must End Surprise Medical Billing By Aimee Walsh, M.D. Counselor, House of Delegates Medical Association of the State of Alabama Past President, Alabama State Society of Anesthesiology Past President, Mobile County Medical Society Far too often, Mobile residents receive an unwelcome surprise in the form of an unexpected, costly medical bill. Patients who think…