In honor of the day, the American Medical Association suggested five steps the government can take to improve physicians’ lives, and jobs, year-round.
1. Fix prior authorization: Prior authorization causes care delays and hassles for patients and physicians. It puts a major administrative and clinical burden on physicians and their staffers.
2. Reform Medicare pay: Congress should work against Medicare cuts and fight barriers to patient care. The Medicare payment process is unsustainable as is.
3. Fight scope creep: Several states are giving nurses more duties and more ability to practice without physician oversight. This can have potentially negative consequences for patients, according to the AMA.
4. Support telehealth: Telehealth is critical to the future of healthcare, allowing physicians more flexibility and sustainability. Congress should expand telehealth laws, ensuring physicians receive fair payments.
5. Reduce burnout: Focus on removing administrative burdens that cause physician burnout, including excessive paperwork and unsustainable workflows, according to the AMA.
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