Highlights from AMA House of Delegates Meeting

The AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) convened in National Harbor, Maryland for its interim meeting in mid-November. The four-day session followed three weeks of preparatory caucus meetings. The House addressed a wide range of timely and pivotal issues shaping the practice of medicine and patient care.  

AANEM was represented at the meeting by Bill David, MD, PhD (delegate), Ileana Howard, MD (alternate delegate), Dan Pierce, MD (young physician delegate), and Rachel Volbrecht, JD (staff liaison). AANEM actively participates in the PM&R Caucus, Neuroscience Caucus, Neurology Section, and Mobility Caucus, in addition to the delegates’ regional delegations.

Key policy discussions included:

Prior Authorization: The HOD adopted policy urging the AMA to advocate that low-cost medications and procedures should not require prior authorization in an effort to streamline patient care and minimize unnecessary delays in treatment.

Augmented Intelligence (AI): Recognizing the growing influence of technology in medicine, the HOD approved a resolution to safeguard patients and clinicians from the misuse of deepfake technology. Additional adopted policy encourages the incorporation of AI education into medical training programs to ensure physicians are prepared to use AI tools effectively and safely.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A late resolution on coverage for Peripheral Nerve Blockades (PNBs) was adopted in response to a draft of Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) that would deem many PNB procedures not reasonable and necessary. The AMA was directed to advocate for withdrawal of the draft LCDs and preserve (and where supported by evidence, expand) coverage of PNBs and all associated therapies.

Anthem Nonparticipating Care Provider Facility Policy: Delegates voiced significant concern about a recently announced Facility Administrative Policy: Use of a Nonparticipating Care Provider. The new policy, set to take effect in 11 states January 1, 2026, would penalize hospitals with a 10% reimbursement cut when out-of-network physicians are involved in a patient’s care. The HOD adopted a resolution directing the AMA to advocate through legislative, regulatory, and private-sector avenues to prevent health insurers from pressuring hospitals through payment cuts, fees, or network termination tied to physician network status. The AMA will collaborate with specialty and state medical societies to oppose these coercive policies and develop model legislation to protect patient access and physician autonomy. AANEM joined numerous physician organizations opposing the policy through a coalition letter. 

More detail on the full list of actions taken at the interim meeting and information on AMA membership can be found on the AMA website. The HOD will reconvene for its annual meeting in June 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. If you have a suggestion for a future resolution topic for the AANEM delegation please email policy@aanem.org.