Your Michigan Delegation to the American Medical Association, led by Chair James D. Grant, MD, MBA, recently concluded another successful AMA Interim meeting in Orlando.

Of the 11 Michigan resolutions submitted, 10 were adopted or adopted as amended. Once again, Michigan's resolutions, which garnered widespread support, dealt with a number of timely issues including those that impact the ability to practice medicine and patient and public safety. Highlights include:

• Continued advocacy for the AMA to increase its efforts to ensure that Maintenance of Certification does not become a mandatory requirement for insurance panel participation, state licensure, or privileging.
• Encouraging the AMA to work with stakeholders to explore alternative evidence-based methods of determining ongoing clinical competency.
• Calling upon the AMA to formally endorse the recommendations contained within the publication, "Firearm-Related Injury and Death in the United States: A Call to Action From 8 Health Professional Organizations and the American Bar Association."
• Encouraging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop payment mechanisms that optimize patient access to and utilization of appropriate hospice and palliative care.
• Addressing the health and environmental consequences of using pavement sealcoats that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), by banning the use of such materials that contain more than minimal PAH.

"Members of the Michigan Delegation worked hard to support these resolutions," Doctor Grant said. "I'm proud of their dedication and efforts at the Interim meeting."

Not surprisingly, the AMA Interim meeting was abuzz with speculation on the potential impact of the recent US elections on health care and the Affordable Care Act. As a result, policy was adopted directing the AMA to actively engage with the new Administration and Congress, collaborate with state and specialty medical societies, and craft a strong statement reaffirming its commitment to health care reform that improves access to care for all patients.

In light of this action, AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, MD, released a public statement which included the following remarks:

"Using a comprehensive policy framework that has been refined over the past two decades, the AMA will actively engage the incoming Trump Administration and Congress in discussions on the future direction of health care. The AMA remains committed to improving health insurance coverage so that patients receive timely, high quality care, preventive services, medications and other necessary treatments."

"A core principle is that any new reform proposal should not cause individuals currently covered to become uninsured. We will also advance recommendations to support the delivery of high quality patient care. Policymakers have a notable opportunity to also reduce excessive regulatory burdens that diminish physicians' time devoted to patient care and increase costs."

"Health care reform is a journey involving many complex issues and challenges, and the AMA is committed to working with federal and state policymakers to advance reforms to improve the health of the nation."

The policy framework referenced in Dr Gurman's statement can be accessed at https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/default/files/media-browser/public/washington/ama-vision-on-health-reform.pdf.

To view the Top 10 Stories for the AMA's Interim Meeting, visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/ama-news/top-10-stories-ama-s-interim-meeting.