Report of the Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) – 12-15 November 2011

The interim meeting of the AMA was held in New Orleans 12-15 November.   The American Thoracic Society (ATS) presented several resolutions for consideration by the House of Delegates (HOD) of the AMA.   The initial resolution adopted by the HOD requested the AMA communicate with the US Department of State describing the negative impact current visa policies have on medical and scientific programs and urge appropriate changes to remove unnecessary barriers in the visa process that prevent the participation of  international physicians and scientists seeking to attend  US-based conferences.   Commentary at the reference committee indicated that up to 65% of participants in US medical professional conferences are international.   At the request of the ATS the AMA reaffirmed its support of the Clean Air Act.   During the past year Congress has repeatedly passed legislation that impedes the implementation of evidence-based air pollution regulations developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).   The AMA will submit comments to President Obama expressing opposition to his decision to delay the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone proposed by the EPA and supported by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Review Panel for ozone.   In this communication with the President, the adverse health effects of this delay will be noted.

The AMA will advocate to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against the removal of generic medications from the market in favor of more expensive brand name products based solely on the lack of efficacy studies of the generic drug.

There will be vigorous opposition by the AMA to the implementation of ICD-10 which is utilized in coding and billing standards.   It will create unnecessary and major financial disruptions for physicians as they implement electronic health records in their practices.   Representation of “employed” physicians will be embraced by the AMA in an informational manner, exclusive of legal opinions and representation.

The AMA will advocate that the FDA and/or Congress require drug manufacturers to establish a plan for continuity of supply of vital and life-sustaining medications and vaccines to avoid production shortages.   In 2010 almost 180 shortages of medically necessary drugs were identified by the FDA, triple the number since 2005.   The AMA will support drug shortage legislation (HR 2245 and S 296) that would require manufacturers to notify the FDA of any discontinuance, interruption or adjustment in the manufacture of a drug that may result in a shortage.

The AMA will encourage the development and implementation of a national registry, with minimally identifiable information, for healthy subjects in Phase 1 trials by the FDA to promote safety, research quality and to document prior trial participation.

Congress will be encouraged to support those initiatives that include reproductive health outcomes and development, particularly in minority populations in the EPA Environmental Justice policies.   The AMA will support the continuation of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, or the securing of adequate alternative funding,, and communicate that position to Congress.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph W. Sokolowski Jr. M.D.
ATS Delegate to the AMA