MMA Physicians Address Medicare, Rural Emergency Care, and Physician Aid-in-Dying at AMA Meeting

November 16, 2023

Members of the MMA delegation to the AMA helped shape policy at the AMA’s Interim Meeting November 10-14 in National Harbor, Maryland. The most visible issue at the meeting was the looming Medicare physician payment cuts and AMA’s advocacy to “Fix Medicare Now.” More information about the planned cuts and ways that you can take action now can be found at Fix Medicare Now. 

The Minnesota delegates also weighed in on a resolution that would have required the AMA to write model legislation to require on-site, dedicated physician presence in emergency rooms/departments. Attendees raised concerns that the resolution, if adopted, would create significant risks for rural emergency rooms where on-site physicians often cover the emergency room, inpatient services, and other patient care areas. Delegates also noted the implications of the proposal on critical access and rural emergency hospitals, as such facilities often rely on advanced practice professionals working with remote tele-supervision or collaboration. Delegates recognized the value of an on-site physician, but articulated the reality of severe workforce shortages in rural areas and the unintended consequences that legislation would have, including the potential closure of rural hospitals/emergency services. The resolution was referred to the AMA Board of Trustees for a more detailed study of the impact on rural communities.  

MMA members attending the AMA House of Delegates included: Ashok Patel, MD (left), Lisa Mattson, MD, Dennis O'Hare, MD, Cindy Firkins Smith, MD, Adrina Kocharian, Laurel Ries, MD, Andrea Hillerud, MD, Rebecca Yao, MD, and George Morris, MD.

Delegates also considered proposals from the medical student and resident fellow sections seeking to clarify AMA policy on physician-assisted suicide and medical aid-in-dying. This is an issue in which MMA policy differs from AMA policy, with MMA policy articulating opposition to medical aid-in-dying legislation, unless specific safeguards are included.  The resolution asking AMA to reconsider its current policy in opposition to medical aid-in-dying was referred to the AMA Board of Trustees for further study; the second resolution seeking a position of “neutrality” on the topic was not adopted. There were no changes to the AMA’s Code of Ethics. 

Several delegates took advantage of the meeting location to meet with members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation to stress the importance of Congressional action to reform Medicare physician payment. George Morris, MD and Cindy Firkins Smith, MD met with staff from Congressman Tom Emmer’s office, and Laurel Ries, MD, Andrea Hillerud, MD and Dennis O’Hare, MD met with staff from Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s office.  

Minnesota physicians attending the meeting included: delegates JP Abenstein, MD, Andrea Hillerud, MD, Dennis O’Hare, MD, and Cindy Firkins Smith, MD; and alternate delegates Lisa Mattson, MD, George Morris, MD, Ashok Patel, MD, and Laurel Ries, MD. Also attending were residents Rebecca Yao, MD, MPH, and Dominik Dabrowski, MD, and medical student delegate Adrina Kocharian.