AMA Insights

 

As many who read CHEST® Physician may know, we have a nucleus of dedicated volunteers who give unselfishly of their time and talent to represent our members in the area of “regulatory advocacy” and “policy advocacy” in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. It is our goal to recognize and support this valuable group of individuals who represent us in the space of coding and reimbursement, RUC activities, relationships with organizations like the ACP and the AMA, as well as our sister societies, such as ATS, SCCM, NAMDRC, CCNA, APSR, ALAT, and ERS, among others.

One of our goals, in addition to recognizing this group, is to identify and mentor the next generation of representatives. A great example of this mentorship is reflected in our involvement with the AMA. Dr. Bob McCaffree has represented CHEST for 22 years and is now mentoring Dr. Raj Desai who will be assuming this role of AMA Delegate this year. Special thanks to Dr. McCaffree for his unselfish service in this capacity and for his mentorship of Dr. Desai. I hope that you enjoy this and future CHEST® Physician articles summarizing and reflecting on the activities pertinent to CHEST at the AMA.

John Studdard, MD, FCCP

CHEST President

Collaborating with societies: CHEST and AMA

While the American Medical Association (AMA) is the oldest and largest national medical association, many physicians, both members and nonmembers, have limited understanding of the policies, processes, and strategic foci of the AMA. It is our goal to inform our membership about the workings of the AMA and how those interact with the goals of CHEST and our members. We hope to do this by publishing periodic articles in CHEST^® Physician. One of the authors (DRM) has been the CHEST delegate to the AMA for more than 20 years, and the other (NRD) is CHEST’s new delegate.

The AMA was founded in 1847 at a convocation of physicians following a call by Dr. Nathan Davis at the New York Medical Society for such a convocation to establish a national organization of physicians “to promote the science and art of medicine and the betterment of public health.” One early focus was the development of a Code of Ethics, which remains a major focus of the AMA. The current strategic plan has three major goals:
 

• Create thriving physician practices.
• Create the medical school of the future.
• Improve health outcomes.

We will expand on these in future articles.

 

The AMA is both an individual member organization and a federation of geographic, ie, county and state, societies and specialty societies, as well as the uniformed services and the VA. It is this federation that comprises the House of Delegates (HOD or House), which is the principle policy-making body of the AMA. The number of delegates from each member organization (now numbering more than 170 organizations) depends on the number of individual AMA members among that organization’s members. Due to recent bylaws changes, CHEST now has two delegates. The HOD meets twice per year to establish policy on health, medical, professional, and governance matters, as well as the principles within which the AMA’s business activities are conducted.

Most policies originate via resolutions submitted by individuals or societies. These resolutions then go to one of several Reference Committees for open discussion. These committees then report their recommendations back to the House, which then discusses and votes on the recommendations. In some instances, the question is referred for further studies by one of several councils, whose reports go to the Board of Trustees or back to the House.

Most member societies meet in caucuses or Section Councils prior to the voting in the House to discuss the pending business. The Specialty and Service Society (SSS) is the largest caucus in the AMA’s House of Delegates. The SSS meets twice annually in conjunction with the Interim and Annual Meetings of the HOD. There are two categories of groups in the SSS: those societies that have seats in the HOD and those seeking admission to the house.

SSS groups in the HOD include:

• 119 national medical specialties
• 2 professional interest medical associations
• 5 military service groups

 

An association must first be represented in the SSS for 3 years and meet the required number of AMA members before it is eligible to seek admission to the HOD.

The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is an active member of the SSS but also joins with other societies of similar interests in the Section Council on Chest and Allergic Diseases. This caucus includes the ATS, SCCM, ASSM, and several allergy societies. Through the HOD, the SSS, and the Section Council, CHEST can partner with the AMA and other societies, such as ATS, to support each other’s resolutions or important regulatory issues.

In summary, the AMA plays an important role in many areas of interest to our members. And, it can be a useful forum for connecting with societies with similar interests in directing advocacy and setting policy. We plan to continue this update in future issues of CHEST® Physician.
 

References

1. https://www.ama-assn.org/content/ama-house-delegates Accessed: January 28, 2018

2. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/ama-steps-forward-practice-improvement-strategies Accessed: January 28, 2018

 

As many who read CHEST® Physician may know, we have a nucleus of dedicated volunteers who give unselfishly of their time and talent to represent our members in the area of “regulatory advocacy” and “policy advocacy” in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. It is our goal to recognize and support this valuable group of individuals who represent us in the space of coding and reimbursement, RUC activities, relationships with organizations like the ACP and the AMA, as well as our sister societies, such as ATS, SCCM, NAMDRC, CCNA, APSR, ALAT, and ERS, among others.

One of our goals, in addition to recognizing this group, is to identify and mentor the next generation of representatives. A great example of this mentorship is reflected in our involvement with the AMA. Dr. Bob McCaffree has represented CHEST for 22 years and is now mentoring Dr. Raj Desai who will be assuming this role of AMA Delegate this year. Special thanks to Dr. McCaffree for his unselfish service in this capacity and for his mentorship of Dr. Desai. I hope that you enjoy this and future CHEST® Physician articles summarizing and reflecting on the activities pertinent to CHEST at the AMA.

John Studdard, MD, FCCP

CHEST President

Collaborating with societies: CHEST and AMA

While the American Medical Association (AMA) is the oldest and largest national medical association, many physicians, both members and nonmembers, have limited understanding of the policies, processes, and strategic foci of the AMA. It is our goal to inform our membership about the workings of the AMA and how those interact with the goals of CHEST and our members. We hope to do this by publishing periodic articles in CHEST^® Physician. One of the authors (DRM) has been the CHEST delegate to the AMA for more than 20 years, and the other (NRD) is CHEST’s new delegate.

The AMA was founded in 1847 at a convocation of physicians following a call by Dr. Nathan Davis at the New York Medical Society for such a convocation to establish a national organization of physicians “to promote the science and art of medicine and the betterment of public health.” One early focus was the development of a Code of Ethics, which remains a major focus of the AMA. The current strategic plan has three major goals:
 

• Create thriving physician practices.
• Create the medical school of the future.
• Improve health outcomes.

We will expand on these in future articles.

 

The AMA is both an individual member organization and a federation of geographic, ie, county and state, societies and specialty societies, as well as the uniformed services and the VA. It is this federation that comprises the House of Delegates (HOD or House), which is the principle policy-making body of the AMA. The number of delegates from each member organization (now numbering more than 170 organizations) depends on the number of individual AMA members among that organization’s members. Due to recent bylaws changes, CHEST now has two delegates. The HOD meets twice per year to establish policy on health, medical, professional, and governance matters, as well as the principles within which the AMA’s business activities are conducted.

Most policies originate via resolutions submitted by individuals or societies. These resolutions then go to one of several Reference Committees for open discussion. These committees then report their recommendations back to the House, which then discusses and votes on the recommendations. In some instances, the question is referred for further studies by one of several councils, whose reports go to the Board of Trustees or back to the House.

Most member societies meet in caucuses or Section Councils prior to the voting in the House to discuss the pending business. The Specialty and Service Society (SSS) is the largest caucus in the AMA’s House of Delegates. The SSS meets twice annually in conjunction with the Interim and Annual Meetings of the HOD. There are two categories of groups in the SSS: those societies that have seats in the HOD and those seeking admission to the house.

SSS groups in the HOD include:

• 119 national medical specialties
• 2 professional interest medical associations
• 5 military service groups

 

An association must first be represented in the SSS for 3 years and meet the required number of AMA members before it is eligible to seek admission to the HOD.

The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is an active member of the SSS but also joins with other societies of similar interests in the Section Council on Chest and Allergic Diseases. This caucus includes the ATS, SCCM, ASSM, and several allergy societies. Through the HOD, the SSS, and the Section Council, CHEST can partner with the AMA and other societies, such as ATS, to support each other’s resolutions or important regulatory issues.

In summary, the AMA plays an important role in many areas of interest to our members. And, it can be a useful forum for connecting with societies with similar interests in directing advocacy and setting policy. We plan to continue this update in future issues of CHEST® Physician.
 

References

1. https://www.ama-assn.org/content/ama-house-delegates Accessed: January 28, 2018

2. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/ama-steps-forward-practice-improvement-strategies Accessed: January 28, 2018

 

As many who read CHEST® Physician may know, we have a nucleus of dedicated volunteers who give unselfishly of their time and talent to represent our members in the area of “regulatory advocacy” and “policy advocacy” in the areas of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. It is our goal to recognize and support this valuable group of individuals who represent us in the space of coding and reimbursement, RUC activities, relationships with organizations like the ACP and the AMA, as well as our sister societies, such as ATS, SCCM, NAMDRC, CCNA, APSR, ALAT, and ERS, among others.

One of our goals, in addition to recognizing this group, is to identify and mentor the next generation of representatives. A great example of this mentorship is reflected in our involvement with the AMA. Dr. Bob McCaffree has represented CHEST for 22 years and is now mentoring Dr. Raj Desai who will be assuming this role of AMA Delegate this year. Special thanks to Dr. McCaffree for his unselfish service in this capacity and for his mentorship of Dr. Desai. I hope that you enjoy this and future CHEST® Physician articles summarizing and reflecting on the activities pertinent to CHEST at the AMA.

John Studdard, MD, FCCP

CHEST President

Collaborating with societies: CHEST and AMA

While the American Medical Association (AMA) is the oldest and largest national medical association, many physicians, both members and nonmembers, have limited understanding of the policies, processes, and strategic foci of the AMA. It is our goal to inform our membership about the workings of the AMA and how those interact with the goals of CHEST and our members. We hope to do this by publishing periodic articles in CHEST^® Physician. One of the authors (DRM) has been the CHEST delegate to the AMA for more than 20 years, and the other (NRD) is CHEST’s new delegate.

The AMA was founded in 1847 at a convocation of physicians following a call by Dr. Nathan Davis at the New York Medical Society for such a convocation to establish a national organization of physicians “to promote the science and art of medicine and the betterment of public health.” One early focus was the development of a Code of Ethics, which remains a major focus of the AMA. The current strategic plan has three major goals:
 

• Create thriving physician practices.
• Create the medical school of the future.
• Improve health outcomes.

We will expand on these in future articles.

 

The AMA is both an individual member organization and a federation of geographic, ie, county and state, societies and specialty societies, as well as the uniformed services and the VA. It is this federation that comprises the House of Delegates (HOD or House), which is the principle policy-making body of the AMA. The number of delegates from each member organization (now numbering more than 170 organizations) depends on the number of individual AMA members among that organization’s members. Due to recent bylaws changes, CHEST now has two delegates. The HOD meets twice per year to establish policy on health, medical, professional, and governance matters, as well as the principles within which the AMA’s business activities are conducted.

Most policies originate via resolutions submitted by individuals or societies. These resolutions then go to one of several Reference Committees for open discussion. These committees then report their recommendations back to the House, which then discusses and votes on the recommendations. In some instances, the question is referred for further studies by one of several councils, whose reports go to the Board of Trustees or back to the House.

Most member societies meet in caucuses or Section Councils prior to the voting in the House to discuss the pending business. The Specialty and Service Society (SSS) is the largest caucus in the AMA’s House of Delegates. The SSS meets twice annually in conjunction with the Interim and Annual Meetings of the HOD. There are two categories of groups in the SSS: those societies that have seats in the HOD and those seeking admission to the house.

SSS groups in the HOD include:

• 119 national medical specialties
• 2 professional interest medical associations
• 5 military service groups

 

An association must first be represented in the SSS for 3 years and meet the required number of AMA members before it is eligible to seek admission to the HOD.

The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is an active member of the SSS but also joins with other societies of similar interests in the Section Council on Chest and Allergic Diseases. This caucus includes the ATS, SCCM, ASSM, and several allergy societies. Through the HOD, the SSS, and the Section Council, CHEST can partner with the AMA and other societies, such as ATS, to support each other’s resolutions or important regulatory issues.

In summary, the AMA plays an important role in many areas of interest to our members. And, it can be a useful forum for connecting with societies with similar interests in directing advocacy and setting policy. We plan to continue this update in future issues of CHEST® Physician.
 

References

1. https://www.ama-assn.org/content/ama-house-delegates Accessed: January 28, 2018

2. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/ama-steps-forward-practice-improvement-strategies Accessed: January 28, 2018