NEWS
AMA Delegate Report
Welcome Back
Joseph B . Selby , MD Delegate and Chair
The 172nd annual meeting of the American Medical Association ( AMA ) convened in Chicago June 9-14 , 2023 . This year the meeting started a day early due to the backlog of resolutions and business created by COVID-19 the past two years when the meetings were virtual .
Before I mention policy topics that I think are of interest to West Virginia ( WV ) physicians , I would like to review some statistics and operational details about the AMA House of Delegates so members better understand the process and work of your delegation .
The House of Delegates consists of 708 representatives from various states , special societies , and affiliated organizations . In general , 670 to 680 members are credentialed for any one session , so there is always a quorum to conduct business . WV is represented by two delegates — myself and Dr . Hoyt Burdick . There are two credentialed alternate delegates , our current president , Dr . Lisa Costello , and our immediate past president , Dr . Shafic Sraj . There were 228 agenda items , which included reports , opinions , and resolutions to be discussed in reference committee and then discussed by the general assembly of the House of Delegates . The resolutions and reports were assigned to one of eight reference committees , which were : Constitution and Bylaws , Medical Service , Legislation , Medical Education , Public Health , Science and Technology , AMA Governance and Finance , and Medical Practice .
It was during these reference committee sessions that pros , cons , and suggestions for changes by addition and / or deletion were made , and the committee made changes to the resolutions to reflect the will of the members . The items were then presented to the House of Delegates in general session .
The reference committees presented their items as a consent calendar for acceptance with one of the following recommended actions : adoption , adoption as amended or substituted , adoption for reaffirmation in lieu of , adoption with a title change , referral to the Board of Directors , referral to the Board of Directors for decision , filing , or not adoption .
Once the reference committee presented its consent calendar , the members of the House could extract any item for discussion . Typically , seven to 10 items are extracted from each of the eight reference committees . Once an item is extracted , a full discussion on that item ensues , and further modifications can be made . Once all parties were heard and modifications were made , the full House
voted on the changes . An important point to be understood , once a pro and a con testimony was heard on an item , any member could move to immediately vote on the issue of that item . At any time , if a member felt the changes and issues were too complicated to be handled in the time allotted on the floor of the House of Delegates , a move for referral could be made , and if a majority of the members of the House of Delegates agreed , the item was referred to the Board for review and discussion at a later time and date with report back on the Board ’ s recommendations / decisions . The tactic of referral is often used to limit lengthy debate and avoid endless wordsmithing on an item on the floor of the House .
Election of officers occurred at this meeting , as it does every year . Outgoing president , Jack Resneck , MD , from San Rafael , California , gave his departing remarks . Jesse M . Ehrenfeld , MD , from Milwaukee , Wisconsin , was inaugurated as president of the AMA . Bruce A . Scott , MD , from Louisville , Kentucky , was elected president-elect , and Lisa Bohaman Egbert , MD , from Kettering , Ohio , was elected speaker of the House . John Armstrong , MD , from Ocala , Florida , was elected as vice speaker in a close runoff election .
Prior to the start of the annual meeting , the Organization of State Medical Association Presidents ( OSMAP ) held a meeting , which I attended . Outgoing President Resneck highlighted what he felt were the most important issues facing the profession of medicine , some of which include fixing Medicare without cuts ; eliminating or drastically reducing the hassle with prior authorization ; physician burnout ; mental health access ; gender-affirming care ; women ’ s healthcare and keeping politics out of the exam room ; gun violence ; and others .
There were two formal presentations given as part of the OSMAP program . The Medical Society of Virginia has developed a safe haven program to assist and protect physicians who seek help for anxiety , depression , burnout , and career fatigue . MedChi :
12 • www . wvsma . org