AMA urges state leaders to take action to protect access to health care during and after the pandemic

PatientEngagementHIT (4/15, Heath) reports the AMA sent letters “to the National Governor’s Association, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and National Council of Insurance Legislators,” calling for state leaders to take action to maintain access to health care during and after the coronavirus pandemic. States “need to address telehealth access, health payer grace periods, and prior authorizations as part of their efforts to maintain patient access to care during and after the coronavirus, according to” the letters from AMA. James L. Madara, M.D., AMA CEO and Executive Vice President, wrote, “As state leaders continue to debate how best and responsibly to address the myriad health care and health insurance issues that this pandemic provokes, the AMA urges strong consideration be given to the impact that such policy changes will have on patients’ immediate and long-term access to their physicians.”