Physicians from across the country gathered in New Orleans for the American Medical Association’s Interim Meeting to discuss a variety of issues such as national drug shortages, health insurance exchanges, prescription drug abuse, and scope of practice, and adopt policies for the coming year.
Some of the actions taken by the AMA delegates at their annual meeting, held Nov. 12-15, 2011, include:
- Combat national drug shortages—Support legislation that would require drug manufacturers to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of any discontinuance or interruption that may lead to a shortage; also advocate for a plan to avoid shortages of vital and life-sustaining medications whenever possible.
- Prescription drug abuse—Encourage the use of standardized tools to screen for substance abuse and urge physicians to use their state’s controlled substances database. Legislation to create a new controlled substances database (CSDB) in Pennsylvania, House Bill 1651, was introduced in the state House of Representatives on June 7, 2011. The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) believes that an effective CSDB would help lower non-medical use of controlled substances and improve access to care.
- Scope of practice—Adopted several scope-of-practice policies to ensure patient safety at medical spas and during invasive procedures and anesthesia services.
- Private contracting legislation—Support the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act (H.R. 1700) which would give Medicare beneficiaries a greater choice of physicians by allowing them to use their benefits even if the physician they choose does not accept Medicare.
- Stop implementation of ICD-10 code set—With ICD-10 codes set to take effect Oct. 1 2013, AMA delegates voted to “vigorously work to stop the implementation of ICD-10 and to reduce its unnecessary and significant burdens on the practice of medicine.”
- Guidelines for health insurance exchanges—Support the open marketplace model, the involvement of state medical associations in legislative and regulatory processes, and inclusion of actively practicing physicians and patients in their governing structure.
With the nation’s health care system undergoing rapid transformation, the AMA also echoed PAMED’s new strategic direction (called the “Blueprint” within PAMED) that encourages physicians to step up as leaders and be involved in shaping the future of health care.
For more meeting highlights, watch the recap video on AMA’s website.