Advisory Committee Charter

Charter
Advisory Committee on Group Practice Physicians
July 2006 - June 2008

Purpose:
The Advisory Committee on Group Practice Physicians provides advice to the AMA Board of Trustees and Association staff on both policy matters and program activities; represent the needs and serve as advocates for group and faculty practices; and promote AMA membership, policy and outreach efforts.

Goals and Objectives:
The goals and objectives of the Advisory Committee include, but are not limited, to:

• Analyzing pertinent data, trends, policy and ongoing activities as they relate to and affect the physician group practice community and to increase the awareness and understanding of group and faculty practices and group and faculty practice physicians
• Helping to expand the programs and activities of the Office of Group Practice Services
• Helping to expand the Board of Trustees’ understanding of group practice issues and needs
• Increasing membership outreach and communication efforts and encouraging participation and retention of group practice physicians in the AMA and organized medicine
• Assisting with the Group Practice Caucus that will be held in conjunction with each Annual and Interim meeting
• Serving as advocates for the greater group and faculty practice community

Committee Membership and Leadership:
The Advisory Committee is comprised of 11 group practice physician leaders who represent the group practice community with respect to size and geographic locale. Nominations for the Committee are solicited from the Federation and confirmed by the Board of Trustees. All Committee members will serve a three-year term and are eligible for nine years of service.

One of the eleven members will serve as Chair, one as Vice Chair, and one as Past Chair. The existing Committee will select its leadership. The Chair and Vice Chair must have served a term as a Committee member. The Chair and Vice Chair must be available for all Committee meetings, interim planning meetings, and special Board sessions. In principle, an individual should not be a member of more than one AMA Committee. The Director of the Office of Group Practice Liaison will serve as Secretary.

All members shall be required to attend a minimum of three out of six meetings per three-year term with the exception of the Chair and Vice-chair who should attend all meetings. Since substitutes are not recommended, Committee members’ attendance is essential to the success of the Committee’s work.

Committee Budget:
The Committee will be provided with an annual budget for the authorized period as approved through the AMA budgeting process to cover expenses as authorized under standard AMA guidelines.

Committee Oversight:
The Committee is responsible for submitting a BOT report for transmittal to each Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates. The report should include key activities and accomplishments of the Committee and its members and proposed goals. The Committee will also be appointed two BOT liaisons to assist with communications to and from the Board.

Committee Structure and Function:
The Chair or Vice Chair of the Advisory Committee will convene the Committee twice a year, prior to each Annual and Interim meeting of the House of Delegates. When needed, other meetings may be convened. All efforts will be made to contain costs. Committee members will also be expected to contain costs when travelling on AMA business.

The Advisory Committee will provide advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees and to AMA staff when appropriate on policy matters that bear directly on group practice physicians and offer suggestions for program activities and policies that best meet the needs of this physician segment.