On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the American Medical Association (AMA) Interim Meeting concluded its business having addressed 104 resolutions and 38 reports from the Board of Trustees and Councils. Although many timely and important issues were the focus of robust debate, the reality of looming Medicare payment cuts was foremost in everyone’s thoughts and conversations. Members of the AMA House of Delegates were steadfast in expressing the financial unsustainability of another year of reductions when the cost of doing business continues to grow.
Current advocacy efforts are underway to support H.R. 10073, a bipartisan bill that would replace the upcoming 2.8 percent cut with a payment increase equal to half the Medicare Economic Index for 2025. HOD members were asked to spread the word amongst their colleagues to contact Congressional members about co-sponsoring and passing the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 10073)
While the passage of H.R. 10073 would provide some relief for the 2025 calendar year, members expressed frustration with the annual fight to claw back money from scheduled payment reductions. AMA leadership and staff shared that the second part of the advocacy strategy is to push for the passage of the Strengthening Medicare for Patients Providers Act (H.R. 2474) during the first quarter of 2025 to ensure physicians receive an annual inflationary increase tied to the MEI. To show solidarity on this issue, physicians are strongly encouraged to come out in force for the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., February 10-12, 2025. The goal is to show Congress the real-life impact of the broken Medicare payment system on patients, physician practices, and the communities across America that doctors serve.
During the Interim Meeting, the Michigan Delegation continued to be a visible and active force within the AMA HOD. Amit Ghose, MD, served on Reference Committee K, T. Jann Caison-Sorey continued her service on the Committee on Conduct at AMA Meetings and Events, and Michael Chafty, MD, JD, Betty S. Chu, MD, MBA, Louito C. Edje, MD, FAAFP, MHPE, continued to represent their respective AMA Councils (Legislation, Medical Service, and Medical Education). Finally, Brooke Buckley, MD, FACS, spoke at the Opening Session in her role as Chair of the AMPAC Board of Directors.
Michigan submitted two resolutions, 212 and 812, to the Interim Meeting. While both were received favorably, Resolution 212, “Addressing the Unregulated Body Brokerage Industry,” was referred. Resolution 212 addressed the need for federal and state legislation to provide minimum standards, oversight, and accountability over body broker entities.
Resolution 812, “Advocate for Therapy Cap Exception Process,” gained co-sponsorship from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and American College of Rheumatology. This Resolution updated AMA policy to direct advocacy efforts to ensure that any health plans that utilize therapy caps or thresholds be required to have an exception process that minimally follows the Medicare standard for therapy cap exceptions. It was adopted with overwhelming support.
Other topics of interest discussed during the meeting include but are not limited to, palliative care, corporate practice of medicine, timely credentialing, transparency of facility fees, removal of unproven outcome measures, and food insecurity. For more meeting highlights, click here.