NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nation's broadest democratic assembly of physicians will gather in New Orleans on Nov. 12 to shape the health care agenda of the American Medical Association, the country's largest physician organization.
The AMA's House of Delegates is the policy-making body at the center of American medicine, bringing together physicians and medical students from all corners of the country and from every medical field. Delegates represent their peers during a democratic forum that will create a national physician consensus on issues impacting the practice of medicine.
More than 100 policy proposals will be considered on emerging issues in science, ethics, government, public health and business. Physicians will vote on which proposals will guide the AMA's health care advocacy agenda.
Among the proposals to be considered for the AMA's health policy agenda include:
Solutions to national drug shortages
Council on Science and Public Health Report 2 - National Drug Shortages
Resolution 924 - Vital Drug Shortage
Resolution 926 - Prescription Drug Shortages: A National Emergency
Guidelines for the operation of health insurance exchanges
Council on Medical Service Report 6 - Health Insurance Exchanges
Regulations for energy drinks
Resolution 909 – Hazards of Energy Beverages
No more tax incentives for films depicting tobacco use
Resolution 937 - Tax Incentives for Films Depicting Tobacco
Support access to male infant circumcision
Resolution 222 – Legal Prohibition of Circumcision
Complaints about electronic health record products and vendors
Resolution 823 - Electronic Health Record "Lemon Law"
A comprehensive list of policy proposals to be considered at the meeting can be viewed on the AMA website at: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/meeting/reports-resolutions-listing.shtml
WHAT
Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates
WHERE
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Tel: (504) 561-0500
WHEN
2:00 pm (CT) on Saturday, November 12, through 12:00 pm (CT) on Tuesday, November 15.
CONTACTS
AMA Media Relations (Chicago) – (312) 464-4430
AMA Media Relations (Washington) – (202) 789-7421
REGISTRATION
The AMA House of Delegates is open to credentialed members of the press. To arrange for press credentials, or to receive additional details, please contact AMA Media Relations.
INTERVIEWS
The AMA will have spokespeople available upon request to discuss the issues that have been voted on during the meeting. To schedule an interview during the meeting, please contact AMA Media Relations.
DAILY EVENTS
All events will take place at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Times and room locations are subject to change. Please contact AMA Media Relations to receive updates.
Saturday, Nov. 12
Opening Session of the AMA House of Delegates
2:00 to 5:30 pm (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
The AMA's primary policy-making body convenes for its Interim Meeting.
Sunday, Nov. 13
Committee Hearings
8:30 am to 1:00 pm (CT) - please contact AMA Media Relations for specific times and room locations
Open hearings are convened to review and debate proposed policies.
Transformation of Health Care Delivery: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities
1:00 to 3:00 pm (CT) in the Jefferson Ballroom
Three speakers will share their experiences in dealing with the challenges and opportunities of health system reform. This program will examine a variety of new practice models available to physicians to meet the anticipated changes triggered by the Affordable Care Act. Speakers include: Jay Crosson, M.D., senior fellow, Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy and associate executive director, The Permanente Medical Group, Inc; Susan J. Turney, M.D., president and CEO, Medical Group Management Association; and Barbara Spivak, M.D., president and chair, Mount Auburn Cambridge IPA.
Physicians as Community Health Advocates
3:00 to 4:00 pm (CT) in the Melrose Room
This session will introduce a physician training module developed by the AMA to help physicians engage in community-based leadership on policies that encourage obesity prevention and health lifestyles.
Disaster Medicine and New Orleans
4:30 to 6:00 pm (CT) in the Melrose Room
Howard Osofsky, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans will speak about the mental health consequences of Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the B.P. oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (2010).
Monday, Nov. 14
Prescription Drug Abuse
8:00 to 9:30 am (CT) in the Belle Chasse Room
R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, will be among the presenters at a discussion of the recent trends and important contributing factors in prescription drug abuse. The education session will also explore the abuse of opioids and the acceleration in unintentional overdoses and fatalities attributed to these products. The discussion also includes presentations by J. David Haddox, D.D.S., M.D., vice president of health policy at Purdue Pharma L.P. and Lynn R. Webster, M.D., medical director for Lifetree Clinical Research & Pain Clinic and treasurer for the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
National Drug Shortages
10:00 to 11:00 am (CT) in the Belle Chasse Room
This session will examine recent trends in national drug shortages, identify information resources for prescribers, explain the contributing factors behind drug shortages and review proposed solutions to help reduce the drug shortage burden.
Voting Session of the AMA House of Delegates
2:00 to 6:00 pm (CT) in the Grand Ballroom
Delegates convene for the first day of voting on proposed policies.
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Voting Session of the AMA House of Delegates
8:30 am to 12:00 pm (PT) in the Grand Ballroom
Delegates convene for the final day of voting on proposed policies.
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