63rd AMA Interim Meeting
Physician-delegates from around the country gathered in Houston Nov. 7-10.
Debates in the houses
As the U.S. House debated health system reform legislation on Nov. 7, the AMA House of Delegates opened its Interim Meeting in Houston, where the nation’s physicians will debate several proposed policies on reform. Speaking to more than 450 delegates, AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, spelled out critical elements essential for reform, including health insurance coverage for all Americans, repeal of the Medicare physician payment formula and medical liability reforms. He urged physicians not to be divisive and to work together. “Those who are satisfied with the status quo will stop at nothing to derail reform. They seek to sow division among their opponents, divide them and conquer. It’s a strategy as old as the art of warfare itself.” On Nov. 5, the Association announced its support for House bills on health system reform and Medicare pay reform.
5 areas of focus
In his speech to the House of Delegates, AMA Executive Vice President and CEO Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA, detailed the five strategic areas of AMA focus for 2010: access to care; quality of care; cost of health care; prevention and wellness; and payment models. “We hope that health system reform enacted by Congress and signed by the president will begin to address these vital issues in a positive and productive way. But whether or not that happens fully, or in part, we will be actively engaged with this agenda.”
Back home
Newly confirmed Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, MD, was greeted with a standing ovation during the opening session of the house. “Wow, what a surprise,” said Dr. Benjamin, former member of the AMA Board of Trustees and former chair of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. “This house has prepared me for my new job.” Dr. Benjamin, a family physician from Bayou la Batre, Ala., received unanimous confirmation from the U.S. Senate Oct. 29.
Eye on duty
Chicago ophthalmologist Manus C. Kraff, MD, (left) was awarded the AMA’s 2009 Benjamin Rush Award for Citizenship and Community Service. Dr. Kraff started offering free care to military servicemen and women in 2005. He since has performed more than 200 laser vision correction surgeries for military personnel who serve or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “All of us can support our troops in our own way,” Dr. Kraff said.
Fighting domestic violence
Lisa James of Berkeley, Calif., was awarded the Citation for Distinguished Service, the highest honor the House of Delegates presents to a nonphysician. James is director of health for the Family Violence Prevention Fund, which has worked for more than 20 years to prevent violence in homes and communities and to help victims of violence. She has developed educational materials on domestic violence and has collaborated with health care professionals and others in 15 states to develop health care responses to domestic violence.
Student to student
Tiffany C. Nelson, a medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch, gives high school student Brandon Scott a glimpse into medical professions during a Nov. 5 visit to Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston. About 90 medical students and physicians, including AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, spoke to more than 2,500 students at four schools as part of the AMA’s Doctors Back to School, a program that encourages minorities to pursue careers in medicine.
Dissecting system reform
Robert T. Phillips MD, PhD, a delegate of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, was among the delegates who discussed issues before reference committees on Sunday, Nov. 8. Health system reform dominated the meeting. The committee meeting on that issue lasted hours as physicians talked about the AMA’s position on reform and the U.S. House of Representatives bill that passed late on Saturday, Nov. 7. By the end of Monday, Nov. 9, the house took action to preserve the AMA’s strong voice.
Taking action
Voting began on Monday, Nov. 9 to approve policies that impact physicians and their patients. Delegates took action on health system reform, Medicare pay and medical ethics, among other issues. Slated for discussion Tuesday, Nov. 10, the final day of the house: resident work hours, health care disparities in same-sex partner households and preventing the spread of A(H1N1) influenza.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Posted with the Nov. 9, 2009 issue
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