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Policy and Advocacy

The AMA Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS) is the preeminent national advocate for physician members of the medical staff and other organizations. Click on the links below and to the left to learn more about OMSS advocacy efforts and the policy-making process that guides them.

What's New in Advocacy and Policy

Joint Commission Field Review - Primary Care Medical Home
The Joint Commission is seeking comment on proposed revisions to its certification requirements for Primary Care Medical Homes (PCMHs) in the ambulatory care setting. Notably, The Joint Commission proposes to:

  • Retain its current requirement that leadership of the PCMH may be assigned to a "primary care clinician" who need not be a physician (MD/DO). (Note: This position is inconsistent with the Joint Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home, an AMA-endorsed policy statement which maintains that medical homes should be physician-led.) The Joint Commission's proposed revisions would, however, require PCMHs to provide patients with information regarding the credentials and educational background of individuals serving in the role of primary care clinician.
  • Revise the PCMH certification requirements to align with Stage 2 meaningful use criteria (for example, the PCMH must use a computerized order entry system for at least 60% of medication orders).

The Joint Commission is also seeking information about new research, evidence, or data compiled from recent medical home pilots that would suggest the need to revise The Joint Commission's current PCMH model or certification requirements.

Physicians are encouraged to participate individually in the field review by visting The Joint Commission website and completing a brief online survey or submitting comments via an online form (link at the bottom of the page). The comment period ends April 22.

Submit a resolution for consideration at the 2013 AMA-OMSS Annual Meeting
The resolution submission deadline is May 4, 2013. Learn more about the development and submission of resolutions.