Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Sandy Marks Guest: Kim Horvath, JD Guest: Kyle Thomson, JD With telehealth services expanding during the COVID-19 pandemic, has our access to them changed? To better understand this, Dr. Charles Turck meets with Sandy Marks, Kim Horvath, and Kyle Thomson from the AMA to explore what’s been done to provide Medicare coverage during a public health emergency and what’s on the horizon for telehealth access.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Emily Carroll, JD, MSW The No Surprises Act aims to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. But how exactly does it go about doing that, and what’s the current status of its implementation? Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share progress and challenges associated with the No Surprises Act is Ms. Emily Carroll, a senior legislative attorney for the American Medical Association's Advocacy Resource Center.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Jennifer Brown, JD The risks associated with pregnancy are disproportionately higher for some patient populations, but several organizations are taking action to change that. Dr. Jennifer Caudle joins Jennifer Brown, senior legislative and regulatory attorney at the American Medical Association, to discuss the AMA’s efforts to improve maternal health.

Host: John Russell, MD Guest: Bobby Mukkamala, MD Chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, joins Dr. John Russell to discuss the nation’s worsening drug overdose epidemic and the AMA’s recommendations to help patients.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Emily Carroll, JD, MSW Guest: Heather McComas, PharmD Guest: Chris Sherin The prior authorization cost control process can be a burden on clinicians and lead to delayed treatment for patients. But the AMA’s recent advocacy efforts may help reform the process. Dr. Charles Turck meets with Emily Carroll, Heather McComas, and Chris Sherin to dive into these reforms and their impact at the state and federal levels.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Mira Irons, MD Guest: Shannon Curtis Following the approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine, mass-vaccination has made approving a vaccine difficult. How are the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control deciding on which vaccinations to authorize? Dr. Mira Irons and Shannon Curtis of the American Medical Association join Dr. Charles Turck to discuss authorization processes and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

Host: Charles Turck, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP Guest: Patrice Harris, MD The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 80,000 Americans died from May 2019 to May 2020 due to a drug-related overdose. CDC data indicates that the drug overdose epidemic is being fueled by a staggering rise in deaths involving illicitly manufactured Fentanyl methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. In response to the far-reaching drug overdose epidemic, organizations like the American Medical Association and Manatt Health have come together to help end this epidemic. Here to recap the process that’s been made and what the 2020 national policy roadmap recommends moving towards is Dr. Patrice Harris a psychiatrist and chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH With E&M coding changes taking effect January 1, 2021, the AMA offers tools and resources for physician implementation. Dr. Kathleen Blake, Vice President of Healthcare Quality at the American Medical Association, joins Dr. Jennifer Caudle to share what we can expect.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Susan R. Bailey, MD The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the healthcare field through reductions in patient volume and higher practice costs. How will these economic challenges change health policy and alter the future of healthcare? President of the American Medical Association Dr. Susan R. Bailey joins Dr. Matt Birnholz to discuss their recent survey.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Carol Vargo, MHS Physicians across the country have been working hard to keep their practices operational and their patients, as well as themselves, safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Carol Vargo returns to share some tips and resources to help keep healthcare practices open with Dr. Jennifer Caudle.