DISCLAIMER
The following is a preliminary report of actions taken by the House of Delegates at
its 2004 Annual Meeting and should not be considered final. Only the Official
Proceedings of the House of Delegates reflect official policy of the Association.
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES (A-04)
Report of Reference Committee F
William C. Sternfeld, MD, Chair
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In keeping with Resolution 601 (A-96), the Reference Committee recommends
the following consent calendar for acceptance:
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION
1.
Recommendations of Board of Trustees Report 5 – American Medical
Association Minority Affairs Consortium
2.
Recommendations of Board of Trustees Report 8 -- Mentoring Medical
Students, Residents and Young Physicians for Membership
3.
Recommendations of Board of Trustees Report 20 -- AMA Dues – 2005
4.
Recommendations of Board of Trustees Report 30 – Resident and Fellow
Section Recruitment Funding Initiative
5.
Recommendation of Board of Trustees Report 32 – Editorial
Independence at JAMA and the Archives Journals
in lieu of
Resolution 610 – Change JAMA’s Editorial Policies
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CLRPD Report 1 – CLRPD’s Sunset Review of 1994 House Policies
7.
Resolution 602 – Restriction of Pharmaceutical Advertising on the AMA
Web Site
8.
Resolution 609 – AMA 2007 or 2008 Interim Meeting in Hawaii
RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AS AMENDED OR SUBSTITUTED
9.
Recommendations of Board of Trustees Report 19 – House of Delegates
Operations and Procedures
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Resolution 611 – Increased Collaboration Between the AMA and
Osteopathic Association
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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RECOMMENDED FOR REFERRAL FOR DECISION
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Resolution 604 – Extending Membership Benefits to Students Enrolled in
the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education BS/MD Program
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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RECOMMENDED FOR NOT ADOPTION
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Report of the Committee of the House of Delegates on Compensation of
the AMA General Officers – Report on the Compensation of AMA
General Officers
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Resolution 601 – Compilation of State Medical Society Membership Data
by the AMA
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Resolution 603 – Cost Containment
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Resolution 605 – Quality of Care – Nursing Homes
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Resolution 606 – Junior AMA
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Resolution 607 – American Medical Association Public Health Council
Study
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Resolution 608 – Creation of a Fellowship Status within our American
Medical Association
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Resolution 612 – AMA Meeting Venues
Resolution 614 – Conference Locations for AMA Meetings
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Resolution 613 – Creating an AMA-RFS Health Policy Fellowship
RECOMMENDED FOR FILING
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Board of Trustees Report 31 – Auditor’s Report
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Board of Trustees Report 23 – AMA Performance, Activities, and Status
in 2003
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(1)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 5 - AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION MINORITY AFFAIRS
CONSORTIUM
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 5 be adopted and the
remainder of the report be filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 5 adopted, remainder of
report filed.
Board of Trustees Report 5 sets forth the AMA Board of Trustees suggestions
for strengthening the Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) voice in the House of
Delegates and ensuring that the minority perspective is adequately incorporated
in AMA policy and program development. This report addresses those issues
and provides a summary of the MAC goals and activities. Specifically, BOT
Report 5 recommends that the HOD approve the concept of a voting position for
the MAC in the AMA HOD and that the MAC continue its role as an advisory
body to the Board of Trustees and the Association on minority issues. The report
further recommends that the Council on Constitution and Bylaws develop
appropriate bylaw amendments to establish the MAC as an entity in our HOD
and that sunset of these bylaw amendments be considered by the HOD based
on a report from the BOT five years after adoption of the amendments.
There was substantial testimony in support of Board of Trustees Report 5,
especially with regard to the importance of having the voice of minority
physicians heard in the House of Delegates, and the salutary effect of House of
Delegates representation on membership recruitment within the minority
community.
(2)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 8 MENTORING MEDICAL STUDENTS,
RESIDENTS AND YOUNG PHYSICIANS FOR
MEMBERSHIP
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 8 be adopted and the
remainder of the report be filed.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 8 adopted, remainder of
report filed.
Board of Trustees Report 8 responds to Resolution 603 (A-03), which asked the
AMA to develop a formal mentoring program for medical students, residents,
fellows, and young physicians. BOT Report 8 shares some of the options that
the BOT explored for developing a new formal AMA mentoring program, outlines
existing AMA programs with a mentoring focus, and highlights some examples of
some Federation mentoring programs. Based on its study, the BOT reports that
good mentoring is based on personal and often informal connections, and the
most effective programs appear to be those conducted locally. BOT Report 8
makes the following recommendations in lieu of Resolution 603 (A-03): that our
AMA encourage the active participation of Federation members in existing AMA
programs with a mentoring focus; our AMA establish and maintain an AMA
clearinghouse for AMA members-only of mentoring programs across the
Federation for physicians and medical students; and our AMA continue to
explore future mentoring opportunities.
Your Reference Committee heard limited testimony. Your Reference Committee
concurs that medical students, residents, fellows, and young physicians do
benefit from mentoring and that good mentoring is based on personal and often
informal connections, and that most successful programs are run at the local
level. Your Reference Committee therefore believes that the AMA would provide
value to its members by establishing and publicizing an AMA clearinghouse for
AMA members-only of mentoring programs across the Federation. Your
Reference Committee also recognizes that it is important that the AMA continue
to publicize its mentoring efforts.
(3)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 20 -- AMA
DUES -- 2005
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 20 be adopted and the
remainder of the report be filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 20 adopted, remainder of
report filed.
Board of Trustees Report 20 recommends that there be no change to the dues
levels for 2005. Accordingly, 2005 AMA dues will be:
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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Regular Members
Physicians in Their Second Year of Practice
Physicians in Military Service
Physicians in Their First Year of Practice
Physicians in Resident Training
Medical Students
$ 420
$ 315
$ 280
$ 210
$ 45
$ 20
Regular Physician Members of unified societies dues rebate for 2005 will be in
the form of a reduced dues level of $300.
Your Reference Committee heard no testimony on Board of Trustees Report 20.
In accordance with the report, your Reference Committee believes that there
should be no change to the AMA dues levels for 2005.
(4)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 30 - RESIDENT
AND FELLOW SECTION RECRUITMENT
FUNDING INITIATIVE
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 30 be adopted and the
remainder of the report be filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 30 adopted, remainder of
report filed.
Board of Trustees Report 30 responds to Resolution 613 (A-03), which
requested, among other things, that our AMA formalize a recruitment model
based on the Medical Student Section Outreach Program (MSSOP) with reward
monies awarded directly to State Resident and Fellow Sections. Board of
Trustees Report 30 recommends, in lieu of adopting the specific strategies in
Resolution 613, that the AMA explore the enhancement of resident marketing
strategies as the new AMA evolves.
Your Reference Committee concurs with the testimony urging the AMA to keep
focused on the ten strategic membership initiatives described in Board of
Trustees Report 14 (I-03) and not to pursue piecemeal strategies to increase
membership.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(5)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 32 –
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE AT JAMA AND THE
ARCHIVES JOURNALS
RESOLUTION 610 - CHANGE JAMA'S
EDITORIAL POLICIES
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 32 be adopted in lieu of
Resolution 610 and the remainder of the report be
filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 32 adopted in lieu of
Resolution 610, remainder of report filed.
Board of Trustees Report 32 affirms that JAMA and the Archives journals shall
continue to have full editorial independence as set forth in the AMA Editorial
Governance Plan. It recommends that the BOT discuss with the editor of JAMA
and the Journal Oversight Committee options for how and where to place
disclaimers in JAMA and the Archives journals, indicating that editorial content
within the journal does not represent offical AMA policy. Finally, BOT Report 32
recommends that the BOT present a report to the House of Delegates at the
Interim 2004 meeting regarding the outcome of discussions about the use of
disclaimers in JAMA and the Archives journals.
Resolution 610 asks the Journal of the American Medical Association editors to
place a disclaimer statement on the title page of all articles where conflicting
AMA policy exists, especially in public policy areas and that the JAMA editors
publish relevant AMA policy as an appendix to any article dealing with an issue
on which AMA policy exists.
Your Reference Committee heard substantial testimony in support of BOT
Report 32 and in opposition to Resolution 610. Your Reference Committee
concurs that JAMA’s editorial independence is crucial to the continued success
of the Journal and should be preserved. Testimony indicated that no other major
medical journal puts a disclaimer on each individual article and the AMA is one
of a few that puts a disclaimer in its masthead.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(6)
COUNCIL ON LONG RANGE PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT REPORT 1 - CLRPD'S SUNSET
REVIEW OF 1994 HOUSE POLICIES
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Your Reference Committee heard mixed testimony. Your Reference Committee
believes that this proposed policy is consistent with current practices and the
current AMA advertising guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendations in Council
on Long Range Planning and Development Report
1 be adopted and the remainder of the report be
filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Council on Long Range Planning and Development
Report 1 adopted, remainder of report filed.
In accordance with Policy H-600.100, AMA Policy Database, the Council on
Long Range Planning and Development (CLRPD) Report 1 presents the
CLRPD’s recommendations on the disposition of the 1994 House policies that
were assigned to it.
CLRPD Report 1 was introduced briefly by a representative of the Council. There
was no further testimony on this report.
(7)
RESOLUTION 602 - RESTRICTION OF
PHARMACEUTICAL ADVERTISING ON THE
AMA WEB SITE
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 602 be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 602 adopted.
Resolution 602 asks that our American Medical Association amend its current
Advertising Guidelines on web site pharmaceutical advertising to state that:
“There will be no pharmaceutical advertisements on the AMA web site which are
directed towards patients.”
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(8)
RESOLUTION 609 - AMA 2007 OR 2008 INTERIM
MEETING IN HAWAII
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 609 be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 609 adopted.
Resolution 609 asks our American Medical Association to reaffirm its wellestablished practice of returning to Hawaii every four to five years for the AMA
House of Delegates Interim Meeting, with its next meeting in Hawaii to be held in
2007 or 2008.
Your Reference Committee heard substantial testimony in support of this
resolution. It was pointed out that travel and meeting costs can vary substantially
from location to location, and that the travel costs to Hawaii vary substantially
depending on the point of departure. Travel to and hotel costs in Hawaii may be
less expensive than some locations on the mainland. In addition, your Reference
Committee was impressed with the extent of work the Hawaii Medical
Association has done to arrange financial and logistical support for an AMA
meeting in Hawaii in 2007 or 2008. A concern was expressed that some
members perceive meetings in Hawaii to be “junkets,” but it was pointed out that
other members do not seem to have a problem with this and that most members
are totally unaware of the location of AMA meetings. In addition, it was pointed
out that the AMA meetings in Hawaii have been very helpful to the Hawaii
Medical Association in pursuing its advocacy agenda with the state government.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(9)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 19 - HOUSE
OF DELEGATES OPERATIONS AND
PROCEDURES
RECOMMENDATION A:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Recommendations 1, 2, 5, 6, 7,
and 8 of Board of Trustees Report 19 be adopted.
RECOMMENDATION B:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Recommendations 3 and 4 of
Board of Trustees Report 19 not be adopted.
RECOMMENDATION C:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the Recommendations in Board
of Trustees Report 19 be adopted as amended,
and the remainder of the report be filed.
HOD ACTION: Recommendations contained in
Board of Trustees Report 19 adopted as amended,
remainder of report filed.
Board of Trustees report 19 responds to Recommendation 6 of the Report of the
Committee on Organization of Organizations (COO) (A-2003). Recommendation
6 of the COO Report was adopted as follows:
That the Speakers of the House of Delegates and the Board of Trustees
study streamlining the operations and procedures of the House and
explore the feasibility of alternative voting methods, such as proxy or
weighted voting, in order to allow organizations to function in the manner
they deem most effective without losing representation, and report back
at the 2004 Annual Meeting.
This report summarizes previous work to streamline the House’s operations,
discusses further ideas for improving the functioning of the House, discusses the
possibility of proxy or weighted voting, and makes eight recommendations for the
House’s consideration. The report was prepared in collaboration with the
Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony on several of the recommendations
in Board of Trustees Report 19. There were numerous comments on
Recommendations 3 and 4 dealing with the process for extracting items of
business from the Reaffirmation Calendar and extracting informational reports. It
was acknowledged that the recommended changes might make the process
more efficient, but there was substantial concern expressed that the democratic
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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process would be compromised. Several individuals expressed support for the
idea that nominating speeches could be put in the Election Manual and the time
saved from this could be used by the candidates to espouse their positions on
issues. This might be something for future consideration. In addition, it was
pointed out that the process suggested in Recommendation 7 of modifying
current policy rather than creating new policy would reduce the volume of
material in the AMA policy database. The majority of testimony on proxy voting
was in opposition.
(10)
RESOLUTION 611 - INCREASED
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AMA AND
THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION
RECOMMENDATION A:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 611 be amended by
deletion and insertion of line 19, to read as follows:
RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association continue efforts to
explore collaborateing more with the American Osteopathic Association,
specifically with the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference. (Directive to
Take Action)
RECOMMENDATION B:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
Resolution 611 be adopted as amended.
recommends
that
HOD ACTION: Resolution 611 adopted as
amended.
Resolution 611 asks our American Medical Association to explore collaborating
more with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), specifically with regard
to the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony supporting the idea of a closer
working relationship with AOA, but other testimony indicated that previous
invitations to AOA to participate in AMA advocacy events have been declined,
and that the AOA does not participate in the AMA House of Delegates even
though it has a seat in the House. Therefore, directives to forge a more active
working relationship with AOA should not be limited to specific activities, but
would be better left more general in order to encompass activities in which AOA
might have an interest.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(11)
RESOLUTION 604 - EXTENDING MEMBERSHIP
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE
SOPHIE DAVIS BIOMEDICAL EDUCATION
BS/MD PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 604 be referred for
decision.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 604 referred for decision.
Resolution 604 asks our American Medical Association to establish a three-year
pilot project extending eligibility for membership benefits, including
representation and voting rights as the CUNY Sophie Davis campus in the AMAMSS Assembly, to fourth- and fifth-year students at the CUNY-Sophie Davis
combined BS/MD program, with appropriate steps taken to make this eligibility
permanent at the end of the three-year period should this program be deemed
successful. It further urges the AMA Medical Student Section to encourage
member chapters to recruit fourth- and fifth-year students at the CUNY-Sophie
Davis combined BS/MD program who will attend these chapters' respective
medical schools. Finally, it urges the AMA Medical Student Section to invite
fourth- and fifth-year students at the CUNY-Sophie Davis combined BS/MD
program to attend AMA-MSS Assembly meetings as observer members until
such time as eligibility for membership is established for them.
Based on the testimony, your Reference Committee commends the Sophie
Davis Biomedical Education BS/MD program for its laudable goal of recruiting
minority medical students. While your Reference Committee applauds the
mission of the Sophie Davis program, we are concerned that this request for
student membership did not follow the existing AMA process. Since this is not an
urgent request, your Reference Committee believes the normal process should
be followed. Your Reference Committee believes that the AMA should be
consistent and should consider other programs that may be eligible for this type
of membership.
Finally, your Reference Committee understands that the Medical Student
Section Assembly just referred a similar resolution to its Governing Council,
therefore, the appropriate process is underway.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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(12)
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE
OF DELEGATES ON COMPENSATION OF THE
AMA GENERAL OFFICERS
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that the recommendation in Report of
the Committee on Compensation of the General
Officers not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Report of the Committee on
Compensation of the General Officers not adopted.
The Report of the Committee of the House of Delegates on Compensation
of the AMA General Officers responds to the House of Delegates request
at I-03 that the Committee further study its recommendation that resident
and student compensation be changed from an annual stipend to an
annual honorarium and per diem at the same level as other Trustees for
the period July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005. After considerable discussion and
study, the Committee of the House of Delegates on Compensation
resubmitted its recommendation pertaining to the compensation of the
resident and student Trustees.
Your Reference Committee heard substantial testimony. Two distinct
philosophies on Board compensation are evident in both the report and
the testimony in the Reference Committee. One philosophy of
compensation is to remunerate Trustees for lost income to their practice in
order to defray the cost of serving. Another philosophy is to pay Trustees
on the basis of the value of their contribution to the Association. This
philosophy is built on the notion that all Trustees perform the same
service to the AMA and, therefore, should receive the same
compensation.
It is the understanding of the Reference Committee that the AMA’s
original compensation philosophy was to reimburse Trustees for lost
income to practice. This was the rationale for paying the student and
resident trustees a stipend. This report is based on a shift in philosophy
and your Reference Committee felt that the rationale for this shift was not
sufficiently supported in the Report.
It is important to note that the AMA Bylaws require that the Report of the
Committee on Compensation of the General Officers be adopted, not be
adopted, or referred in its entirety. Given the strong testimony and the
limited options available to us, we recommend not be adopted.
Your Reference Committee believes that the current level of
compensation for the medical student and resident is inadequate and
should be reexamined by the Committee on Compensation.
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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Your Reference Committee heard testimony questioning whether under
Illinois employment law, all Trustees must receive the equal
compensation. This law does not apply to Board members because they
are not employees of the AMA.
(13)
RESOLUTION 601 - COMPILATION OF STATE
MEDICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP DATA BY
THE AMA
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 601 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 601 not adopted.
Resolution 601 asks our American Medical Association to collect and compile for
analysis and use by Federation members the membership data on the state
medical societies constituting the Federation and provide these membership
data to Federation members upon request.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony indicating that the AMA used to
collect membership and dues data. Because the data was self-reported, the
quality of the information received was inconsistent, which led to concerns about
the validity of the survey data. Your Reference Committee is aware that the
American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) recently started to
collect membership data and operational data. Since AAMSE is already
collecting this data, your Reference Committee recommends not adopting this
resolution.
(14)
RESOLUTION 603 - COST CONTAINMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 603 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 603 not adopted.
Resolution 603 asks our American Medical Association, beginning with 20042005 membership renewals/new applications, to provide members or
prospective members the option to receive communications via e-mail, fax or
mail, with a general move toward the most economical methodology.
Your Reference Committee concurs with the intent of the resolution, but believes
that it is important to remain focused on the AMA’s Strategic Membership Plan,
which was adopted at I-03. We believe that strategy 8 of that report is consistent
Reference Committee F (A-04)
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with the intent of this resolution and, therefore, additional policy is not necessary.
Strategy 8 reads as follows:
Deliver more consistent and focused communications: including use of
AMNews as a communication vehicle. Coordinate messages and contacts
for consistent member experience and tailor information delivery based on
member preferences…(emphasis added)
(15)
RESOLUTION 605 - QUALITY OF CARE –
NURSING HOMES
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 605 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 605 not adopted.
Resolution 605 asks our American Medical Association to undertake to solicit
and organize a volunteer corps of experienced and/or retired physicians and
medical directors to serve as a resource to improve quality of care in nursing
homes.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony that other organizations may be
better positioned to organize the efforts of a volunteer corps of physicians, and
that this is better done at the local level.
(16)
RESOLUTION 606 - JUNIOR AMA
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 606 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 606 not adopted.
Resolution 606 asks our American Medical Association to consider the creation
of a “Junior AMA” and report back to the House of Delegates at the 2004 Interim
Meeting.
Your Reference Committee heard limited testimony. Your Reference Committee
believes it is preferable to remain focused on implementing the recently adopted
BOT Report 14 (I-03), AMA Membership Strategic Plan, instead of allocating
resources to new initiatives. Currently, the AMA is very successful in recruiting
medical student members. Resources, however, are necessary to understand
and fix the problem related to members dropping out during the transition period
between medical school and residency and from residency into practice.
Testimony was heard that resources would be better spent on strategies to
retain AMA members during transition periods.
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(17)
RESOLUTION 607 - AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL
STUDY
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 607 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 607 not adopted.
Resolution 607 asks our American Medical Association to study the feasibility of
initiating an AMA Council on Public Health.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony both in support of and in opposition
to the idea of creating a new Council on Public Health. The importance of public
health issues and the prominence of public health in the AMA mission is clear. A
Council on Public Health would send a visible signal regarding that commitment.
However, the AMA is already very active in the public health arena and several
current AMA councils already deal actively with public health issues, especially
the Council on Scientific Affairs, but also the Council on Medical Service and the
Council on Legislation. At a time when the AMA is working hard to contain costs,
the creation of a new council to deal with issues that existing councils are
addressing would add substantially to the AMA operating budget on an ongoing
basis. Your Reference Committee believes that efforts should be made to better
publicize the extent of AMA’s public health activities and its long-standing
commitment to addressing public health issues.
(18)
RESOLUTION 608 - CREATION OF A
FELLOWSHIP STATUS WITHIN OUR AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 608 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 608 not adopted.
Resolution 608 asks our American Medical Association House of Delegates to
form a work group appointed by the Speaker of the House to consider the
creation of a fellowship status within our AMA and the designation Fellow of our
American Medical Association (FAMA), which could be attached to the surname
of said fellows, and that the work group report back with their findings and
recommendations to the House of Delegates at the 2005 Annual Meeting.
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Your Reference Committee heard testimony on both sides of this issue. The
Committee was swayed by testimony from the Chair of the AMA Board Task
Force on Membership. He indicated that the AMA Board Task Force on
Membership has already studied the concept of creating a fellowship status
within our AMA, which revealed no significant member interest.
(19)
RESOLUTION 612 - AMA MEETING VENUES
RESOLUTION 614 – CONFERENCE LOCATIONS
FOR AMA MEETINGS
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolutions 612 and 614 not be
adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolutions 612 and 614 not
adopted.
Resolutions 612 and 614 both ask that our American Medical Association not
select venues that are contrary to AMA policies or missions whenever there are
reasonable venue options for AMA meetings.
Your Reference Committee heard testimony in support of selecting meeting
venues wisely, but also substantial testimony that the subject venue for
Resolution 612, McDonald’s “Hamburger University” in Oakbrook, Illinois is
actually a Hyatt Hotel that is a very good meeting site and does not promote any
particular cuisine. Testimony supported leaving such decisions to the AMA
meeting management process and the Board of Trustees.
(20)
RESOLUTION 613 - CREATING AN AMA-RFS
HEALTH POLICY FELLOWSHIP
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Resolution 613 not be adopted.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 613 referred to Board for
decision.
Resolution 613 calls for the AMA to create a health policy fellowship for residents
that is similar to the one established in 2003 for medical students.
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee heard testimony in support of the
general concept of providing opportunities for medical students and residents to
learn about and gain experience in the public policy process. However, it was
pointed out that a similar fellowship for medical students that was approved last
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year is just now being implemented. It was suggested that similar programs not
be implemented until experience with the student program is available as a basis
for refining the purpose and approach that will best serve the interests of the
participants as well as the AMA.
(21)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 31 AUDITOR'S REPORT
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Board of Trustees Report 31 be
filed.
HOD ACTION: Board of Trustees Report 31 filed.
Board of Trustees Report 31 states that the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the Independent Auditor’s
report have been included in a separate booklet, titled “2003 Annual Report.”
This booklet was included in the handbook mailing to Members of the House of
Delegates.
Your Reference Committee has been very pleased with the quarterly
informational reports it receives. We congratulate the AMA on its continued
sound financial management, and is particularly pleased that there was a
significant positive operating result in 2003.
(22)
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT 23 - AMA
PERFORMANCE, ACTIVITIES, AND STATUS IN
2003
RECOMMENDATION:
Madam Speaker, your Reference Committee
recommends that Board of Trustees Report 23 be
filed.
HOD ACTION: Board of Trustees Report 23 filed.
Board of Trustees Report 23 summarizes the major activities and
accomplishments of the AMA during 2003. This is the first annual report of AMA
performance, activities, and status, based on a consolidated reporting format
that was adopted at the 2003 Annual Meeting to reduce the paperwork burden of
the House of Delegates.
Your Reference Committee heard a concern expressed that Board of Trustees
Report 23 does not make sufficiently clear the extent of AMA’s commitment and
activities related to public health. In the Reference Committee hearing, the Board
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of Trustees indicated that next year’s report on performance and activities will
make sure to appropriately summarize the organization’s public health
involvement.
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Madam Speaker, this concludes the report of Reference Committee F. I would
like to thank Michael E. Greene, MD, Lawrence W. Jones, MD, Ronald L.
Ruecker, MD, Carol S. Shapiro, MD, John M. Whitelaw, MD, Colette R. Willins,
MD, and all those who testified before the Committee.
Michael E. Greene, MD (Alternate)
Georgia
Carol S. Shapiro, MD
Virginia
Lawrence W. Jones, MD
American Urological Association
John M. Whitelaw, MD
Amercian College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
Ronald L. Ruecker, MD
Illinois
Colette R. Willins, MD
American Academy of Family
Physicians
William C. Sternfeld, MD
Ohio
Chair