The American Medical Association is changing the Quadruple Aim to include a fourth measure that accounts for physician work-life balance, according to Medscape.
Here are four things to know:
1. After discovering physician and staff burnout were jeopardizing the Triple Aim, the AMA implemented a new policy, in which CMS will use the quadruple aim when assessing accountable care organizations and other practices.
2. Opponents of the new policy say the AMA is not prioritizing, and should first and foremost focus on the patient. A Boston physician argued, "This is not what the AMA should be standing up and saying publicly. I don't think we should be messing with the Triple Aim."
3. However, the American Academy of Family Physicians backed the AMA's decision, especially due to burnout's prevalence amongst healthcare leaders.
4. This week, the AMA also agreed to lobby third-party payers to cover eating disorders, as well as legislation banning pharmacy benefit managers and payers from implementing minimal periods before patients with specific conditions renew prescriptions for medications including solutions, gels, creams and nasal sprays.
More articles on coding & billing:
Andy Slavitt talks CMS goals at 2016 AMA meeting — 4 things to know
Bundled payments in the ASC arena — Healthcare professionals discuss key components for profitability
Aetna to partially fund Humana deal with $3.2B bond — 6 points on the $37B proposed merger and Humana stockholder opposition