The term “AMA papers” refers to the extensive body of documents, standards, and publications generated by the American Medical Association (AMA), the largest national association of physicians and medical students in the United States. Founded in 1847, the AMA promotes the art and science of medicine while working for the betterment of public health. The organization’s output is diverse, ranging from scientific research to regulatory codes and ethical guidelines, all of which establish frameworks that define modern medical practice.
Official Policy Statements and Reports
The AMA actively shapes public health policy and professional standards through its official policy statements. These high-level documents are developed through the organization’s House of Delegates, a body composed of representatives from various state and specialty medical societies. The House of Delegates debates and votes on resolutions and reports, establishing formal AMA policy.
These policies, often designated as “H Policies,” define the association’s stance on a wide array of healthcare issues, from public health crises like the opioid epidemic to complex topics such as healthcare reform and access to care. For example, the AMA advocates for increased access to telehealth services and opposes the administrative burdens of prior authorization policies imposed by insurers. The comprehensive policy database, known as PolicyFinder, distributes these formal positions, providing guidance sought by physicians, policymakers, and the public. These reports are fundamental to the AMA’s advocacy efforts, providing a unified voice in legislative and public discourse at both the state and federal levels.
Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journals
The AMA contributes to medical research through its family of peer-reviewed scientific journals, most notably the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). JAMA is an international general medical journal published continuously since 1883 and is considered a high-impact platform for clinical science. The journal’s scope includes original research, clinical trials, reviews, and medical commentary, which undergo a rigorous evaluation process.
The editorial team initially screens all submitted manuscripts, rejecting a substantial portion without external review if they do not meet the journal’s high standards or scope. Manuscripts that pass this initial assessment are then subjected to single-anonymized peer review, where expert consultants critique the work’s validity, methodology, and scientific importance. JAMA’s acceptance rate is highly selective, typically around 12% of the more than 10,000 annual submissions, underscoring the scientific rigor applied to the content. The publication of research in JAMA and its specialty journals, such as JAMA Internal Medicine or JAMA Surgery, serves to disseminate cutting-edge medical knowledge and educate clinicians worldwide.
The Current Procedural Terminology System
The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system is the most pervasive and financially impactful set of “AMA papers,” functioning as a standardized language for describing medical services. CPT codes are a proprietary, five-character alphanumeric code set developed and maintained by the AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel. These codes describe virtually every medical, surgical, and diagnostic service provided by physicians and other healthcare professionals in the United States.
The system’s creation in 1966 was intended to standardize terminology for medical procedures, enabling reliable communication about services among doctors, coders, patients, and third-party payers. CPT codes are used extensively for claims processing, billing, and reimbursement across both public and private health insurance programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandates the use of CPT as Level I of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), solidifying its universal adoption in the US healthcare landscape.
The codes are categorized into three main types, with Category I being the numerical codes for FDA-approved and widely performed procedures, while Category III codes are temporary identifiers for emerging technologies and services. Although their use is federally required, the AMA retains the copyright, meaning users must pay license fees to access and utilize the code set. The CPT Editorial Panel updates the codes annually through a rigorous, open process to reflect changes in clinical practice and the introduction of medical innovations.
The Code of Medical Ethics
The AMA Code of Medical Ethics establishes the foundational principles and guidelines for professional behavior and moral obligations for physicians. This collection of documents provides a framework for managing complex moral dilemmas encountered in patient care, research, and professional interactions. The Code is not a set of laws but rather a standard of conduct that defines the essentials of honorable behavior for a physician.
The Code is built upon core principles that guide the physician-patient relationship, including beneficence, which means acting in the patient’s best interest, and nonmaleficence, the principle of “do no harm.” Another cornerstone is respect for autonomy, which recognizes the patient’s right to self-determination and makes informed consent a fundamental requirement for medical care. The ethical guidelines address issues such as patient confidentiality, professional boundaries, and the physician’s responsibility to deal honestly with patients and colleagues. The Code also extends beyond individual patient care to encompass a physician’s responsibilities to society, including supporting access to care for all people and participating in activities that improve public health. Regular updates ensure the Code remains relevant to evolving societal values and new medical advancements.