Medical Association of the State of Alabama

Month: February 2020

  • Shift in Patient’s Right to Access Medical Records

    Shift in Patient’s Right to Access Medical Records

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    by

    Russell Sellers
    in ,

    By: Kelli C. Fleming, Burr & Forman The Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”), the government agency tasked with HIPAA compliance and enforcement, recently announced a change impacting a patient’s right to access his/her medical records—a change which is, given OCR’s history, surprisingly favorable to providers.  One of the long-standing premises of HIPAA has been a…

  • Medical Cannabis Passes Senate Committee

    Medical Cannabis Passes Senate Committee

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    by

    Medical Association
    in

    Last Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill allowing cannabis to be recommended for up to 15 conditions for medicinal purposes. SB165, informally named the Compassion Act and sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, M.D., would allow physicians to recommend medical cannabis for conditions such as cancer, anxiety and chronic pain. It would also…

  • Senate Committee Approves Collaborative Practice Ratio Increase

    Senate Committee Approves Collaborative Practice Ratio Increase

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    by

    Medical Association
    in

    Last Wednesday, the Senate Health Committee approved an amended version of legislation dealing with the ratio of physicians to nurse practitioners in a collaborative practice. Originally, the bill would have allowed physician collaboration with an “unlimited” number of full-time equivalent nurse practitioners or nurse-midwives. However, after significant input from the Medical Association, the legislation deletes “unlimited”…

  • Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging

    Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging

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    by

    Russell Sellers
    in , , ,

    Contributed by: Gregg Everett, Gilpin Givhan The Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) was passed in 2014.  PAMA required the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a program that promotes “Appropriate Use Criteria” (AUC) for advanced diagnostic imaging. AUC’s are evidence-based criteria that assist professionals who order and furnish certain imaging services…

  • Legislators: Just Apply Heat

    Legislators: Just Apply Heat

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    by

    Medical Association
    in

    Through years of medical school, residency and fellowships, physicians earn not only more knowledge and expertise than any other health professional, they also earn the right and responsibility of leading the health team.  It is through physician-led care that we ensure continued quality and safety for patients.  But each year, “scope creep” proposals seek to…