MMA Well-Represented at Feisty AMA Meeting in Chicago

June 12, 2025

The AMA’s annual meeting, June 6-11 in Chicago, reinforced the importance of physician advocacy efforts on behalf of their patients and the practice of medicine. 

As the meeting was taking place, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., removed all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The AMA responded immediately with a strong rebuke, issuing a statement, and emergency resolution demanding reinstatement of the ACIP members, and Senate oversight. The resolution passed with wide support despite concerns over political repercussions. The MMA also released its own statement.  

MMA Past-president Laurel Ries, MD (left); President-elect Lisa Mattson, MD; and President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA, pose for a selfie at AMA's Annual Meeting in Chicago.

AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, called on physicians to “step up and get angry” in defense of science, access, and patient care. 

The AMA House of Delegates (HOD) adopted Resolution 211, which was sponsored by California and 18 other delegations, including Minnesota. It called on the AMA to support the use of provider and managed care organization taxes as a mechanism to support increased federal Medicaid funds. An MCO assessment is what the Minnesota Legislature used this year to finance the increase in Medical Assistance payments for mental health services, which the MMA proposed. This type of financing mechanism would be eliminated in H.R.1, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. The Senate is currently discussing the bill.  

The other major action was a directive calling on the AMA to elevate Medicaid to an urgent and top legislative advocacy priority alongside Medicare payment reform, and to specifically advocate for maintaining and expanding Medicaid coverage, access, federal funding, and eligibility.  

The HOD elected Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, as the 180th president-elect of the AMA. Underwood is a urological surgeon from Buffalo, New York.  

“It is an incredible honor to be chosen by my peers to represent physicians and the patients we serve at this critical moment for healthcare and medicine,” Underwood said. “The AMA is leading the way in fighting for a rational Medicare payment system, rein in prior authorization, and reduce physician burnout. I will stand up to advocate for our profession in a way that will inspire, motivate, and activate physicians to join the AMA in our efforts to improve the health of our nation.” 

Finally, delegates were introduced to the AMA’s new executive vice president John Whyte, MD, MPH, who previously served as chief medical officer of WebMD. He replaces James Madara, MD, who is retiring after serving 14 years as AMA’s EVP. 

The MMA’s delegation included: JP Abenstein, MD; Lauren Benning, DO; Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA; Andrea Hillerud, MD; Lisa Mattson, MD; George Morris, MD; Dennis O’Hare, MD; Ashok Patel, MD; Laurel Ries, MD; Cindy Firkins Smith, MD. MMA staff in attendance included: Dave Renner, CAE; Janet Silversmith; Stephanie Lindgren, JD; and Adrian Uphoff, MPH, MPP. 

Advocacy highlights at the meeting included: 

• Rural Minority Health: Supported further research and resources to address care challenges for minorities in rural areas. 

• Combating Misinformation: Called for efforts to counter medical misinformation and protect the physician-patient relationship. 

• Obesity Care: Recognized obesity as a chronic disease requiring priority support. 

• AI & Digital Health: Directed a task force to develop long-term HOD engagement strategies. 

• Legal Advocacy: Backed AMA's lawsuit against MultiPlan, and supported amicus briefs on key public health issues. 

• Prior Authorization Reform: Celebrated federal and state-level wins to streamline prior authorization and reduce care delays. 

• Physician Protections: Supported civil/criminal protection in states with legal physician-assisted suicide; opposition to legalization remains. 

• Health System Ethics and Workforce: Promoted ethical guidance, staff empowerment, and transparency around private equity ownership. 

• Reproductive and Immigrant Care: Defended EMTALA abortion protections and care for undocumented immigrants. 

• Global Health: Reaffirmed support for WHO and USAID. 

For additional highlights, click here.