AANEM Attends AMA House of Delegates Meeting

AANEM cosponsored a resolution at the AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) interim meeting, advocating for the crucial inclusion of the disability community and stakeholder input in discussing a significant change to the disability questions in the U.S. Census. AANEM and cosponsor American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) emphasized the necessity of the disability community and stakeholder involvement before implementing the proposed changes.

There is evidence that the proposed disability questions underperform in documenting individuals with disabilities when compared to the current question set. The resolution called for the AMA to urge the US Census National Advisory Committee to delay a decision on the change to the census disability questions until input has been obtained from the disability community and key stakeholders, and urged the AMA to submit comments to the US Census Bureau by the December 19, 2023, deadline. 

While the HOD referred the resolution to the AMA Board of Trustees for a decision as to what action is appropriate, AANEM and AAPM&R delegates collaborated with the chair of the AMA disability group. This collaboration aims to ensure that the voice of the disability community is considered during the decision-making process. 

In addition to the disability resolution, the HOD addressed pivotal health policy issues, such as Medicare physician payment, prior authorization, scope of practice, and telehealth. These topics align with the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians. Noteworthy discussions also included opposition to single-payer health reform, simplifying clinical trial enrollment in Medicare Advantage, and enhancing oversight of medical boards regulating nonphysician health professionals. 

The meeting ran for 4 days, in addition to caucus meetings throughout the 2-3 weeks leading up to it. AANEM's representation included Bill Pease, MD (Delegate), Bill David, MD, PhD (Alternate Delegate), Dan Pierce, MD (Young Physician Delegate), and Rachel Volbrecht, JD (Staff Liaison). For a comprehensive list of topics covered during the session, visit the AMA website. The HOD will reconvene in June 2024 in Chicago, Illinois, for its annual meeting.