NEWS
AMA Delegate Report
Joseph B . Selby , MD Delegate and Chair
The 2024 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates ( HOD ) took place in Chicago from June 7-12 . Representing West Virginia were myself , Hoyt Burdick , delegate , and Shafic Sraj , alternate delegate . Materials presented below , generated by AMA delegates / delegations , the AMA Board of Trustees , AMA councils , and AMA sections were taken from annotated reports , which provide a preliminary record of the HOD actions until the official proceedings of the House of Delegates are completed and reflect the official policy of the association .
In his final address as President of the AMA , Jesse Ehrenfeld , MD , observed that since he was in medical school , Medicare reimbursements have dropped 29 % when adjusted for inflation . Medicare cuts are unsustainable , which is a key component of the recovery plan .
Dr . Ehrenfeld also noted that nearly 70 % of physicians support the continuation of telemedicine services , and at this meeting , delegates adopted new policy to support the removal of the December 31 , 2024 , sunset date currently set to end reimbursements for services provided by telemedicine .
At this meeting , Dr . Bruce Scott was installed as President of the AMA . Dr . Lisa Egbert was retained as Speaker of the House and John Armstrong as Vice Speaker . Dr . Bobby Mukkamala was elected to the position of President-Elect and will assume office in June 2025 .
The AMA has continued relentless work to fix the unsustainable Medicare physician payment system . HR 2474 would provide physicians with an annual , permanent , inflationary payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index .
The fight continues to combat scope creep . The HOD adopted new policy to encourage hospitals and other healthcare entities to ensure nurse practitioners ' certification aligns with the specialty in which they practice . New policy was adopted urging that all emergency departments be staffed 24 / 7 by a qualified physician .
The following is a selected summary of actions / policies from the reference committees :
Constitution and Bylaws .
• R014 , the preservation of the primary care relationship .
• R021 , opposition to capital punishment .
• R002 , recommend to not adopt the removal of the interim meeting resolutions committee .
RefCom A , Medical Service .
• R106 , incorporating surveillance colonoscopy into colorectal cancer screening continuum .
• R116 , increase insurance coverage for follow-up testing after abnormal screening mammograms .
RefCom B , Legislation .
• BOT Report 11 , safe and effective overdose reversal in educational settings .
• R221 , reform Medicare Part B drug reimbursement to promote patient affordability .
• R227 , Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services .
• R230 , protecting patients from inappropriate dentist and dental hygienist scope of practice expansion .
RefCom C , Medical Education .
• R302 and R316 , the role of maintenance of certification and continued board certification processes .
• R305 , public service loan forgiveness reform .
• R313 , CME credit for rural precepting .
RefCom D , Public Health .
• Council on Science and Public Health Report 11 be adopted that opposes " stand your ground " laws which remove the duty to retreat before using lethal force if a person feels there is an imminent risk of bodily harm .
• R418 , early and periodic eye exams for adults .
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