January 2002 • Volume 8 • Number 1
Marching orders for AMA
The AMA House of Delegates, during its interim meeting last month, took these actions on the following issues.
Tort reform
- The AMA should immediately re-establish tort reform as a top legislative priority and convene a new coalition, including specialty societies, to develop and implement a strategic plan that will address the growing professional liability crisis. (This was a move the AAFP strongly supported.)
Medicare reimbursement
- The AMA should "take as an immediate priority" the pending decrease in the Medicare conversion factor to be implemented on Jan. 1, and should join other organizations -- especially those representing beneficiary interests -- to work with Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to redesign the methodology used to calculate the conversion factor.
Screening lipid profiles and blood sugars
- The AMA should support dialogue with CMS and Congress to cover screening lipid profiles and blood sugars to prevent complications of lipid disorders and diabetes, where such screening is consistent with evidence-based medicine.
Influenza vaccine
- The AMA should continue working with the CDC to address problems associated with influenza vaccine production, delivery and administration, and to ensure continued cooperation and communication among all influenza vaccine stakeholders, with an AAFP-requested report to be sent to the AMA house in June 2002.
Vaccine and drug shortages
- The AMA should ask HHS to establish a task force to explore the causes of drug, diagnostic agent and vaccine shortages and maldistribution, and to identify appropriate solutions.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2002 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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