AANEM Attends AMA House of Delegates Meeting

The AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) convened in Chicago, Illinois, for its annual meeting in mid-June. The meeting ran for 4.5 days, in addition to caucus meetings throughout the 2-3 weeks leading up to it. The meeting covered a wide range of important, timely topics currently affecting healthcare in the USA. AANEM was represented at the meeting by Bill Pease, MD (delegate), Bill David, MD, PhD (alternate delegate), Dan Pierce, MD (young physician delegate), and Rachel Volbrecht, JD (staff liaison).

AANEM co-sponsored a resolution with AAPM&R relating to insurance coverage for shoes and shoe modifications for pediatric patients who require lower extremity orthoses. The resolution highlighted the necessity of proper footwear for pediatric patients with musculoskeletal and/or neuromuscular disorders to optimize mobility and prevent complications. The resolution advocated for insurance coverage for both suitable footwear and necessary modifications, recognizing the financial burden it imposes on families and the reluctance it creates among providers to recommend medically indicated interventions. The resolution received broad support, including personal testimony from individuals who had benefitted from orthoses as children, and the resolution passed. The AANEM delegation also testified in support of a related resolution that called on the AMA to advocate for private and public insurance coverage for adaptive sports equipment, including prostheses and orthoses. This resolution also passed with broad support.

The HOD tackled several other important and timely health policy issues, including reforming Medicare payment, fixing prior authorization, promoting physician-led care, making technology such as AI and telehealth work for physicians, and advocating for solutions to cybersecurity issues. Other issues of note included: pursuing solutions to the physician workforce crisis, improving public health, addressing insurer issues, and reducing physician burnout. The AMA website contains a detailed list of all of the major topics covered during the session.

After 20 years of serving as delegate to the HOD, Dr. Bill Pease is stepping down from the delegation and AANEM is grateful for his many years of service. The opening for a new alternate delegate will be posted in another Spark article, or email rvolbrecht@aanem.org for more information. The HOD will reconvene for its interim meeting in November 2024 in Orlando, Florida.