AMA details top five federal issues for 2014

(HealthDay)—Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Ardis Dee Hoven, M.D., president of the AMA, discusses the top five issues likely to impact physicians and patients in 2014.

Hoven notes that the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula is likely to eliminate instability and that new bills should offer improvements over the current law. Beginning Jan. 1, the Affordable Care Act will be fully implemented and the AMA plans to provide resources to smooth the transition and monitor the impact on practices. The AMA intends to continue working to prevent implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, code set, scheduled for Oct. 1, which will increase outpatient diagnostic codes five-fold. In addition, the AMA will work to make Stage 2 meaningful use of electronic health records criteria more reasonable, with the deadline for meaningful use scheduled for Sept. 30. Finally, the AMA will be providing resources to help physicians prepare for the publication of physician data under the Sunshine Act, scheduled for Sep. 30, which will report financial interactions with drug and medical device manufacturers.

"2014 promises to be a busy year," Hoven concludes. "The AMA will continue to advocate for federal improvements on behalf of physicians and their patients to improve the health of America."