Office of Legal Affairs

Office of Legal Affairs The Office of Legal Affairs provides information to member physicians about Board of Medical Examiner activities, third-party payors, HIPAA, EMTALA and other issues that impact the practice of medicine. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice.

Physicians file lawsuit on FTC's Red Flags Rule

Physicians file lawsuit on FTC's Red Flags Rule An AMA-led lawsuit was filed in federal court on May 21 seeking to prevent the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from extending identity theft regulations to physicians. The AMA was joined in this suit by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the...

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AMA offers help with UnitedHealth settlement filing

AMA offers help with UnitedHealth settlement filing The AMA Practice Management Center has launched a new online resource that will help physicians file claims in the record-breaking settlement reached in the AMA legal victory against UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest health insurer. More than...

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Governor nominates members to IBM

Governor nominates members to IBM Gov. Chet Culver has announced four appointments to the Iowa Board of Medicine (IBM). Joyce Vista-Wayne, MD, of Ottumwa, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Yasyn Lee, MD, of Dubuque. Dr. Vista-Wayne is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. She practices...

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Insurance Division examines "medical necessity" denials

Insurance Division examines The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) has begun an examination of Iowa's law and regulations allowing patients and their physicians to file for an external review of a health plan's final decision to deny payment for a medical service deemed to be medically...

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Checks soon to issue in the BCBS national class action case

Checks soon to issue in the BCBS national class action case Appeals in the Love multidistrict class action litigation by physicians against over 90% of the nation’s Blues plans (including Wellmark) have been finalized, clearing the way for the issuance of settlement checks to doctors who filed proof of claim...

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AMA partners with AAPPO on contracting toolkit

To help physicians, preferred provider networks and payers develop a common understanding during contracting discussions, the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO) and the AMA have partnered to...

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IMS comments on retrospective payment rule

IMS comments on retrospective payment rule Iowa Code section 514F.6, passed by the 2008 General Assembly and effective on July 1, 2008, requires health plans to retroactively pay for covered medical services provided...

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AMA claims victory with settlement against insurer

AMA claims victory with settlement against insurer The American Medical Association (AMA), along with the Medical Society of the State of New York and the Missouri State Medical Association, claims victory with the settlement...

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Payout pending in BCBS settlement

Payout pending in BCBS settlement Several provisions in the national Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement have taken effect after a final order by the federal court in Miami. The settlements are designed to curb contentious business...

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Iowa Court of Appeals Rules

The Iowa Court of Appeals, the state's intermediate appellate court, recently issued an opinion holding that a statement of charges issued by the Iowa Board of Medicine (IBM) against a physician licensee, including a short plain statement...

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