ASA Priorities on Out of Network Billing and the APRN Compact Recognized at AMA 2017 Annual Meeting

At the June 9-14 American Medical Association (AMA) 2017 Annual Meeting, there were positive responses to two of ASA’s top advocacy efforts: out of network care and the APRN Compact.  At the meeting, AMA adopted a proposal, Resolution 115, adopting principles related to unanticipated out-of-network care, and ASA President Jeffrey S. Plagenhoef, M.D., presented on the APRN Compact.

Through Resolution 115, AMA will adopt principles related to unanticipated out-of-network care. Those principles closely mirror the intent of the consensus principles as part of ASA and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP’s) advocacy efforts concerning out-of-network care. Resolution 115 was cosponsored by the: American College of Emergency Physicians; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; American College of Radiology; American Society of Anesthesiologists; College of American Pathologists; American Association of Neurological Surgeons Congress of Neurological Surgeons; Colorado; Georgia; Pennsylvania; Washington; Connecticut; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; Rhode Island; and Vermont. Representatives of the ASA Ad Hoc Committee on Out-of-Network Payment that were AMA delegates worked closely with ACEP delegates and others to ensure the Resolution was adopted. 

In addition to ASA promoting Resolution 115 and helping protect it from harmful amendments, ASA President Jeffrey S. Plagenhoef, M.D. presented on the APRN Compact at the AMA’s 2017 Scope of Practice Summit. His presentation, entitled “APRN Compact: The latest tool in the independent practice toolbox” provided an important opportunity to educate physician leaders and staff from a number of specialty and state medical organizations on this dangerous legislative initiative. Dr. Plagenhoef reminded the audience that this is not a scope battle, it is a patient safety/quality of care battle.  Dr. Plagenhoef’s presentation aligned with the ASA Delegation’s APRN Compact Resolution which calls on the AMA to convene an in-person meeting of relevant stakeholders to initiate a national strategy to address the APRN Compact. This resolution will be considered at the AMA’s Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates in November.