AMA House of Delegates

News from the 2009 Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates, held Nov. 7-10 in Houston.

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Photo by Ted Grudzinski / AMA 63rd AMA Interim Meeting
Physician-delegates from around the country gathered in Houston Nov. 7-10.
Photo by Ted Grudzinski / AMA 158th AMA Annual Meeting
Physician-delegates from around the country gathered in Chicago June 13-17.
Photo by Ted Grudzinski / AMA Obama visits AMA Annual Meeting
"You didn't enter this profession to be bean counters and paper pushers," he told the House of Delegates. "You entered this profession to be healers -- and that's what this health care system should let you be."
Photos by Ted Grudzinski / AMA Breaking through barriers: Incoming AMA president ready to tackle tough issues
In an interview with American Medical News, J. James Rohack, MD, outlines his goals for the next year.
Photo by Peter Wynn Thompson / peterthompsonphoto.com 62nd AMA Interim Meeting
Physician-delegates from around the country gathered in Orlando Nov. 9-11.

Latest from the meeting

Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform
Delegates rejected attempts to rescind AMA support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan.

» "Don't ask, don't tell" said to hurt patient care; repeal urged
» No flu shot mandate for doctors; hand sanitizer pushed
» Delegates support review of marijuana's schedule I status
» Keep hands off the handhelds, drivers urged
» Better data protection needed from Blues
» Nap time mandate for on-call residents rejected
» Are doctors responsible for controlling health care costs?

Recent coverage on topics discussed at the meeting.

Health system reform

» Liability premiums stay stable, but insurers warn this might not last » AMA meeting: Delegate vote refines AMA stance on system reform » Abortion amendment threatens to derail health reform » AMA at a crossroad: Let basic values be our guide » Health care fraud a challenge to system reform » Reform bills aimed at coverage shortages could fall short, insurers warn » Health reform on investors' minds as insurers report earnings » Are health system reform polls meaningful? » House option for public plan wouldn't limit physician pay to Medicare rates » House passes health reform bill, debate moves to Senate » What commentators are saying about the Senate's public plan option » Individual mandate proposals driving insurers to expand offerings » Higher hospital spending linked to better outcomes » Health reform bills light on medical liability reform » Health reform review: The Massachusetts experience » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform » AMA's 7 guiding principles for health system reform » Health plans eye Medicaid as profit source » Senate rejects plan to repeal Medicare physician pay formula » Health co-op compromise might be part of final system reform bill » Women pay more for health care » Finance reform bill would tax higher-premium health plans » Massachusetts universal coverage does not reduce ED visits, polls say » Scientific method offers view to solving liability crisis » Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike » Ability to find, afford care is deteriorating in many states » What editorial writers are saying about a tax on soft drinks » Medicaid pay could be cut again when stimulus money runs out » Health system reform sees rebound in public support » Doctors front and center at health system reform rally at White House » AMA's private sector advocacy efforts yield results » Uninsured are more than just numbers » System reform bill revisited by House panel that OK'd it » Uninsured people may have a higher risk of death than once thought, study finds ... » Insurers say system reform won't put them out of business » What editorial writers are saying about the Senate Finance Committee's health ... » Faces of the uninsured: Individuals behind the statistics » Governors slam proposed Medicaid expansion » Average family health plan premiums top $13,000 » Slideshow: Living in a coverage gap » United, WellPoint accused of creating artificial grassroots lobbying efforts » Health reform should include efforts to fight obesity, group says » Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform » Senate negotiations generate new health reform bill, but not consensus » U.S. uninsured total again tops 46 million » Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths » Insurers under scrutiny for allegedly purging costly clients

Ethics

» AMA meeting: "Don't ask, don't tell" said to hurt patient care; repeal urged
» AMA meeting: Are doctors responsible for controlling health care costs?
» Obese patients say some doctors disrespectful » Plan to advertise? Be mindful of ethical, legal rules » Commercial CME loses funding from second drug firm » Doctors owed no duty to nonpatient, Illinois high court rules » Assisted-suicide statute challenged by 2 Connecticut doctors » H1N1 vaccination of children can require reasoning with concerned parents » Medical spas can be a good business, but with ethical challenges » Pfizer pays record $2.3 billion in off-label drug marketing settlement » Outsourcing clinical trials: Is it ethical to take drug studies abroad? » What editorial writers are saying about end-of-life discussions » Two state courts, same ruling: Informed consent must include all options » End-of-life care provision stirs angst in health reform debate » Take care when discussing phase I trial options » Has kidney trafficking come to the U.S.? » Debate flares over what 'essential' benefits include » Industry gift bans slammed for overreaching » Liver transplant for Apple CEO turns spotlight on organ system inequities » New York OKs paying women who donate eggs for research » Ohio court blocks sweeping records disclosure » Doctors weigh morals, ethics in decisions on refusing services » Treating celebrity patients not all glitz and glamour » Transplant physicians face ethics of paternity discoveries » 5 people die under new Washington physician-assisted suicide law » AMA meeting: Doctors get to see how ethics bar is set » AMA meeting: AMA exhorts doctors to offer charity care, help the uninsured » What editorial writers are saying about the killing of Dr. George Tiller » Doctors, lung cancer patients skirt hospice talk » Vt. bans industry gifts, tightens reporting rules » Industry conflicts common in cancer studies » N.C. court overturns ban on doctor participation in executions » Bad behavior by physicians can't be ignored » IOM warns about physician-pharma conflicts of interest » Consider ethics, patient rights before treating your immediate family » Pharma support of medical societies raises conflict-of-interest concerns » Success from surgical checklists breeds idea for ethical checks » Mass. sets new rules for contact with drug industry » What editorial writers are saying about stem cell research » A miscarriage of medicine (book excerpt: Three Generations, No Imbeciles) » Discussing death with patients can cut costs, ease abandonment fears » Ending abortion conscience rule? » Bills seek to regulate in vitro fertilization » Doctor faces assisted-suicide charge in Georgia » Wash. completes final rules on physician-assisted suicide » Treating the homeless can go beyond medical care

Education

» AMA meeting: Nap time mandate for on-call residents rejected
» 'July phenomenon' from new residents debunked » Medical schools, teaching hospitals help drive local economies » Mandating cultural competency: Should physicians be required to take courses? » Social media behavior could threaten your reputation, job prospects » Resident duty hours: Does more sleep mean safer care? » AMA offers students, residents a head start in medicine » Fla. med school welcomes first class with white coats, money » Med school graduates asked to update NPI data » More federal money to go toward physician training » Industry gift bans slammed for overreaching » Shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons expected » Ohio med school and medical board team up to teach professionalism » Increasing residency slots could help reduce physician shortages » AMA meeting: AMA looks for ways to trim rising student debt » Medical schools improve scores on interactions with drug firms » Scientific competencies for med students defined » Faculty, grads differ on what's 'must-know' » IOM warns about physician-pharma conflicts of interest » Medical students taking free online courses in quality, safety » IRB disclosure policies, review procedures found lacking » Texas university explores offering an MD degree in addition to its DO program » Forced out of retirement: Getting back into practice not always easy » Pharma support of medical societies raises conflict-of-interest concerns » Med school seniors headed for primary care see a challenging future » Tennessee medical school plans to eliminate ethics department » Calif. court denies extra MCAT time for students with learning disabilities

Drug industry

» Senate panel adopts bill restricting generic drug delays » Drug firm sues to end off-label marketing ban » Pfizer pays record $2.3 billion in off-label drug marketing settlement » Industry gift bans slammed for overreaching » Medical schools improve scores on interactions with drug firms » Biologics don't need long market exclusivity, FTC says » IOM warns about physician-pharma conflicts of interest » Court upholds Vermont law on prescribing data privacy » Mass. sets new rules for contact with drug industry » Doctors increasingly close doors to drug reps, while pharma cuts ranks » Number of targeted therapeutics awaiting FDA approval on the rise

Disparities

» Digital divide emerges at hospitals serving poor patients » Obese patients say some doctors disrespectful » Women pay more for health care » Mandating cultural competency: Should physicians be required to take courses? » Doctors often register unconscious bias against blacks, study finds » Ending unequal treatment » Physicians asked to persuade adults to get immunized » Liver transplant for Apple CEO turns spotlight on organ system inequities » HHS: Reducing disparities should be part of health reform » Retail clinics avoid medically underserved areas » Health care quality showing slow improvement » Breaking through barriers: Incoming AMA president ready to tackle tough issues ... » Conference explores tropical diseases being transmitted in U.S. » Making sure your patients know what you're saying » Black-white cancer mortality gap starts with incidence rates » More money, fewer problems getting insurance » Medicare costs for end-of-life care higher for minority patients » National Quality Forum sets bar for culturally competent care

Medicare

» Medicare paid $92 million for 2008 quality bonuses » House option for public plan wouldn't limit physician pay to Medicare rates » AMA's 7 guiding principles for health system reform » Failed Senate vote clouds future of SGR reform » Senate rejects plan to repeal Medicare physician pay formula » Senate panel's health reform bill OK'd with 0.5% Medicare pay hike » Medicare pricing gets new look; RUC process revisited » AMA backs House health system reform bill that includes Medicare pay overhaul » Specialists balk at giving MedPAC regulatory power » Medical homesteading: Moving forward with care coordination » AMA meeting: Don't shortchange specialists to fund care model

Resources

Members only [-]

Complete coverage

Infectious disease

» AMA meeting: No flu shot mandate for doctors; hand sanitizer pushed » AMA's flu site 1st to link to care after rating symptoms » H1N1 vaccine shortage leaves doctors managing crowds, anxieties » Editorial - Where to turn for H1N1 information » What editorial writers are saying about H1N1 flu vaccine » H1N1 virus costing insurers millions » How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine » H1N1 vaccination of children can require reasoning with concerned parents » H1N1 vaccine to be tracked for safety concerns » Review your sick-leave policy before flu season hits » Doctor's rap on H1N1 prevention wins HHS contest » With seasonal flu shots plentiful and H1N1 vaccines expected soon, early .. » N95 respirators -- not surgical masks -- recommended for H1N1 protection » H1N1 on the horizon: Here's how to prepare your practice -- and staff » H1N1, seasonal flu promise one-two punch for physicians' vaccination strategies ... » H1N1 flu shots: Pregnant women, health care workers and children first » H1N1 vaccine on the way for fall distribution » What editorial writers are saying about swine flu » Organizations gather H1N1 flu resources online » CDC warns of variances in influenza strains » Flu shot strongly recommended for children, teens » Research at odds over impact of flu vaccine

Billing

» H1N1: Same code for diagnosis, new one for vaccine » AHIP, Blues association create payer portal » How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine » System reform bill revisited by House panel that OK'd it » Patients more confident they can afford care » Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles » Health plans still need to work on basic skills » Sliding economy leaves physicians wary about collections » Medicare pay for services by nonphysicians comes under scrutiny » How to reduce your practice's credit card fees » Practices see slow progress in instant claims adjudication » Patient satisfaction with PPOs driven down by administrative hassles » Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul » AMA report: Payers more accurate, transparent, but problems continue » Patient portion of fees often a mystery » Texas appeals court upholds $10 million award to fired doctor » Florida insurers forced to honor assignment of benefits » Court rejects physician challenge to change in self-referral rule » Physicians snared by growing Medicare fraud strike team » Physician-patient privilege waived in fraud probe » More practices refusing to accept credit cards from patients » 5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent » Feds' new anti-fraud effort pressures doctors » Bills aim to cut Medicare, Medicaid fraud » How to set your fee schedule: Experts advise updating it every 3 to 12 months » Doctors face risk of harsh penalties from new Medicare enrollment rules » Web sites help patients compare costs of care » Self-insured companies going after doctors to recover 'overpaid' claims » Utah laws take aim at access to care, physician payment » Medicare tries to push doctor enrollment online » When patients declare bankruptcy: What happens to your unpaid bills? » Cigna develops cost-of-care estimator » Riding the revenue cycle: Coping with seasonal fluctuations » United agreements: Fair payments ahead » California's high court bans balance billing » Keeping rubber checks from clogging revenue flow » Taking a financial history: Determining the health of your patient's credit .. » Emergency care system gets low grades » Trading for treatment: Bartering makes a comeback » California doctors to continue battling ban on balance billing

Technology

» AMA meeting: Better data protection needed from Blues
» Digital divide emerges at hospitals serving poor patients » Hospitals and EMRs: Stimulating a connection » EMR school offers help for doctors wary of technology » Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for » AMA's flu site 1st to link to care after rating symptoms » EMR packages being bundled as single product » ASmartphone use pushed by hospitals » Secondary use of EMR data seen reducing costs, improving quality » AIs speech recognition technology ready for prime time? » Health IT grants part of additional stimulus money » Electronic medical records: How implementation will affect staffing » Your practice really needs broadband » Don't let EMRs cut into your doctor-patient time » Promise of stimulus money drives up health IT stock prices » Federal government eyes EHR certification changes » HHS to dole out $1.2 billion for health IT grants » Once-influential health technology alliance set to disband » How to determine an EHR's 'usability' » EHRs have open-source software alternatives » Tap into proper expertise and support before joining EHR 'gold rush' » Health information networks gain wider use » Guidelines on EHR meaningful use moving forward » United predicts big savings in health IT adoption » Update employee policies to include guidelines for social networking » Mass. bill would offer tax breaks for e-prescribing » How CCHIT influences your health tech purchasing » Confidence low that stimulus will drive health IT adoption » GE offers EMR financing » First draft of EHR 'meaningful use' definition unveiled » Before buying an EMR system, learn from others' mistakes » AMA partnering with Microsoft on physician Web portal » 5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent » Maryland enacts health IT incentive law » More refining sought for computerized physician order entry systems » Health system reform is coming -- and you all helped » Scope expands for national personal health technology project » Can a surge in physicians' use of smartphones ripple to health IT adoption? » Vendor as lender (HIMSS meeting) » Google looks at health technology » EMR adoption higher in states with fewer privacy rules » Stimulus package alters HIPAA rules for business associates » AMA takes first steps to build physician Web portal » Minnesota Blues launch online doctor visits » Sam's Club ready to sell EMRs in 3 states » What do patients really want from you? » What editorial writers are saying about electronic health records » GE Healthcare/CDC partnership would link public health alerts to EMRs » Incentives shown to drive health IT adoption » Only 1.5% of nonfederal hospitals report having full EHRs » Calif. pay-for-performance program gets mixed reviews » Interactive kiosks expanding beyond patient check-ins

Leadership voices

AMA at a crossroad

Let basic values be our guide. Commentary J. James Rohack, MD, AMA President

» AMA's 7 guiding principles
by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair.[Nov. 2] » Scientific method offers view to solving liability crisis
by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD [Oct. 19] » AMA's private sector advocacy efforts yield results
by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair [Oct. 5] » Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform
by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD [Sept. 21] » AMA offers students, residents a head start in medicine
by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair [Sept. 7] » "Making the sausage" that will reform broken system
by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD [Aug. 10] » Reform needs a more rational insurance purchasing system
by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD [July 20] » AMA connects with doctors at each stage of their careers
by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD , AMA board chair[June 29] » Health system reform is coming -- and you all helped
by Joseph M. Heyman, MD, AMA board chair [June 1]

Charts & statistics

On the house

The House of Delegates is the AMA’s principal policymaking body. Here is a quick reference to who attends and how work gets done.

From the vault

AMA reaffirms stance in health system reform debate
The Association keeps its options open on public plan issue amid calls from some delegates to take a stand.[Annual 2009]

Delegates back medical home, want pay issues resolved
Physicians decide more discussion is needed on how payment for care under the medical home concept will affect specialists and primary care physicians. [Interim 2008]

AMA grades health plans on how they handle claims
The Association hopes to reduce the administrative costs and other obstacles doctors face in collecting from insurance companies. [Annual 2008]

AMA to renew fight for Medicare balance billing
Some physicians say patients understand that they are struggling with practice costs and would accept balance billing. [Interim 2007]

AMA launches pre-election push on plight of uninsured
Action on SCHIP is to be followed by the release of a national health policy agenda and an advertising campaign on the insurance access problem. [Annual 2007]

Space invader The exam room where a meteorite hit a Virginia doctors' office has become the most requested room among patients, who joke about wearing hard hats to appointments. Story