American Medical Association annual meeting: advocacy progress on numerous public health priorities

Jen Tinguely, MD, MPH
President, South Dakota State Medical Association

August 1, 2024

If given the choice, would you want to see how a hot dog is made? Perhaps some of you would, but I would bet the majority of us are happy to avoid that particular experience and would rather simply enjoy the taste of a grilled hot dog on a warm summer night. This was a reference used at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates that I was fortunate enough to take part in in early June in Chicago, home of deep dish pizza and the infamous Chicago dog. I attended the meeting with our outstanding state delegation that included Mary Carpenter, MD (delegate), Rob Allison, MD (delegate), and Robert Summerer, DO (alternate delegate). Barb Smith also represented the SDSMA in her role as CEO. The meeting highlighted the work that happens “behind the scenes” and is a wonderful example of dedicated professionals working tirelessly over five days to craft, mold and vote on the policies and positions that AMA holds and carries out.

The work actually began weeks before the actual meeting when I received a 270-page document containing multiple resolutions and policies that were related to public health efforts as that was the committee I was assigned to. Each participant of our Chicago delegation was assigned to a different committee, and we met with other delegates, alternate delegates and medical association staff from other Midwest states that make up the North Central Medical Conference (NCMC) to talk though all the different resolutions, policies and decided what our position would be on those policies when the House of Delegates met in Chicago. This truly was the start of the “sausage making” process and it was fascinating to watch and be a part of.

The House of Delegates is the legislative and policy-making body of the AMA. State medical associations (or, in our case with the small size of our state, banding together with other small Midwest states to make up the NCMC) and national medical specialty societies are represented in the House of Delegates along with AMA sections, national societies such as the American Medical Women’s Association, professional interest medical associations and the federal services, including the Public Health Service. The House of Delegates is a mighty group of professionals who get through an inordinate amount of work during their time together and the result is what we see the AMA fighting for in Washington and across the U.S.

Key priorities for the AMA include fixing the prior authorization issue, reforming the Medicare payment system, fighting scope creep, making technology work for physicians (including both artificial intelligence implementation and EHR adoption and usability), and reducing physician burnout. These are not new issues and many of them have been top priorities of the AMA for many years. Here in South Dakota, we are certainly no stranger to the scope creep issue having successfully fought back legislation aimed at giving physician assistants independent practitioner status. We have certainly benefited from the support of the AMA on this particular issue and we will continue to rely on their support as scope creep will almost certainly be something we see again this coming legislative season. Read more about the highlights of the meeting in the Member News section of this issue.

One question I often hear from prospective members regarding membership in the AMA or SDSMA is why it matters or is it worth the money. My answer is how can I afford not to support them? Decisions are being made in regard to how I am told to practice, and these decisions are often made by people who have no knowledge of medical practice whatsoever. As a single provider and constituent, I do not have the time or energy to call or write on every piece of legislation that might impact my practice. But I find comfort in the fact that our SDSMA lobbyists work so hard for us in Pierre. I also know that the AMA is a formidable player at the national level as they craft legislation and guide governing bodies in the direction that will positively impact physicians and our patients. As members of the AMA and SDSMA, we are given the opportunity to be a part of that process which may be a bit chaotic and overwhelming at times. So, while not everyone will want to see how that hot dog is made, you do want to be the one putting in the order. And in Chicago, the hot dog reigns supreme.