NEWS
AMA Delegate Report
Welcome Back
Joseph B . Selby , MD Delegate and Chair
The 2022 American Medical Association ( AMA ) annual meeting , held in Chicago on June 10-15 at the Hyatt Regency , was the first in-person meeting since San Diego in November 2019 . In attendance were myself and Hoyt Burdick , MD , the two delegates representing West Virginia . Acting as an alternate delegate was our state president , Shafic Sraj , MD , MBA-c . Six reference committees met on Saturday . Consideration of the reference committee reports by the full membership of the House of Delegates ( HOD ) began Monday , June 13 , and lasted through Wednesday , June 15 . West Virginia has two seats in the HOD , and we were fully represented for the entire meeting .
New officers were elected at the yearly June meeting . Jack Resnick , MD , was installed as the newly elected president of the AMA , replacing outgoing president Gerald Harmon , MD . The president-elect is Jesse Ehrenfeld , MD . Speaker of the House Dr . Bruce Scott and Vice Speaker Dr . Lisa Egbert continued in their positions .
Outgoing president , Gerald Harmon , MD , detailed what he called a recovery plan for America ' s physicians in his farewell address . The recovery plan for physicians focuses on five key goals :
1 . |
Supporting telehealth to maintain payment and coverage |
2 . |
Reforming Medicare payment |
3 . |
Stopping scope of practice creep |
4 . |
Fixing prior authorization |
5 . |
Reducing physician burnout |
Following is a summary of action / policy accepted by the HOD :
• Encourage the FDA to approve a switch from prescription to over-the-counter oral contraception .
• Delegates directed the AMA to advocate at the state and federal level for the timely processing of all sexual examination kits upon patient consent .
• Delegates amended existing policy directing the AMA to work with the federation of state medical boards and the Federation of State Physician Health Programs to develop model legislation addressing the design and implementation of physical health programs . These programs are designed to allow physicians with potentially impairing conditions , who either come forward or are referred to the program , to be given an opportunity for evaluation , rehabilitation , treatment , and monitoring without disciplinary action in an anonymous , confidential manner .
• Because of concern over workplace retribution / retaliation against physicians both employed and independent contractors who voice concern about patient safety and quality of care , the HOD directed the AMA to develop model state legislation to protect physicians from retaliation when they , in good faith , report concerns of fraud , safety , or harassment .
• In response to concerns from the medical student section and the resident and fellow section of the AMA , the HOD adopted policy to address the cost of childcare , citing data that indicates that the struggle of juggling childcare and the demands of medical education can further amplify the stress for students and physicians across the spectrum of training . It is believed providing on-site or subsidized childcare to medical students and residents during training will help alleviate some of the stress and financial burden they face .
• Over the past 20 years , the AMA has developed policy recommendations to reduce firearm trauma , injury , and death , including a waiting period for firearm availability , background checks , gun safety education and regulation of interstate traffic of gun , a ban on handguns and automatic-repeating weapons , waiting periods before gun purchase , restriction on assault weapons , and mandated penalties for crimes committed with firearms . At this meeting , delegates adopted a new policy to support regulating homemade weapons , known as ghost guns , and research the use of warning labels on ammunition packages . The policy was also adopted to look into the mental health effects of active shooter drills on school children .
• The nation ' s physicians and medical students adopted policy recognizing that it is a violation of human rights and undue interference in the doctor-patient relationship when government intrudes into medicine and impedes access to safe , evidence-based , reproductive health services , including abortion , infertility , and contraception . The new policy also calls for the AMA to seek legal protection for patients who cross state lines to receive reproductive health services . Legal protection is also sought for physicians and others who support or provide reproductive health services or referrals to patients who cross state lines .
• Delegates directed the AMA to adopt policy that limits global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees centigrade , reduces United States greenhouse gas emissions aimed at carbon neutrality by 2050 , supports rapid implementation and incentivization of clean energy solutions , and develops a strategic plan for how we can enact our climate change policy to decarbonize physician practices and the health sector .
West Virginia Medical Journal • September 2022 • 15