AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Resolution: 616
(A-05)
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Introduced by:
American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Gastroenterology
American Gastroenterological Association
American Society for Clinical Oncology
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
American Society of Hematology
American Thoracic Society
Subject:
Subspecialty Representation on Panels, Committees, and Boards of the
American Medical Association
Referred to:
Reference Committee F
(Carol S. Shapiro, MD, Chair)
Whereas, The American Medical Association seeks to “Represent and unite physicians as a
whole” (Source: AMA’s Strategic Plan); and
Whereas, The AMA provides unparalleled leadership in facilitating the recommendation of
relative value units for physician services through the AMA Resource-Based Relative Value
Update Committee (AMA RUC); and
Whereas, Full participation on the AMA RUC Committee is limited to specialties that meet the
following criteria:
1. The specialty is an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognized specialty.
2. The specialty comprises 1% of physicians in practice.
3. The specialty comprises 1% of physician Medicare expenditures.
4. Medicare revenue is at least 10% of mean practice revenue for the specialty.
5. The specialty is not meaningfully represented by an umbrella organization, as determined by
the RUC; and
Whereas, The AMA RUC has allowed selected specialties and subspecialties waive one or
more of these criteria to maintain a permanent seat on the AMA RUC; and
Whereas, The AMA RUC has also rejected the petition of subspecialties that meet criteria 2-5 to
hold a permanent seat, based solely on criterion 1; and
Whereas, The AMA RUC policy of waiving the AMA RUC participation criteria for some
specialty and subspecialty organizations is at odds with the AMA strategic objective of
representing and uniting physicians; and
Whereas, The AMA House of Delegates has determined that only physicians of the same
specialty or subspecialty should be allowed to provide expert witness testimony; therefore be it
Resolution: 616 (A-05)
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RESOLVED, That American Medical Association policy be that for the purposes of
representation on all AMA committees and boards that are sponsored, supported or convened
by the AMA, medical and surgical subspecialties shall be deemed of equal stature to specialties,
to achieve the goal of representing and uniting physicians as a whole for better patient care
(New HOD Policy); and
RESOLVED, That AMA policy be that specifically both specialties and subspecialties
recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties may hold permanent seats on the
AMA Resource-Based Relative Value Update Committee (AMA RUC) (New HOD Policy); and
RESOLVED, That AMA policy be that any subspecialty organization that meets the following
criteria shall be deemed eligible to hold permanent seats on the AMA RUC:
 The specialty comprises 1% of physicians in practice.
 The specialty comprises 1% of physician Medicare expenditures.
 Medicare revenue is at least 10% of mean practice revenue for the specialty.
 The specialty is not meaningfully represented by an umbrella organization. (New HOD
Policy)
Fiscal Note: No Significant Fiscal Impact
Received: 5/11/05