2021 AMA Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates – Updates

Ensuring adequate health care resources to address the long COVID crisis and call for increased funding and research for post-viral syndromes

The policy directs AMA to support the development of an ICD-10 code or family of codes to recognize Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (“PASC” or “Long COVID”) and other novel post-viral syndromes as distinct diagnoses. (New HOD Policy). Further, the policy directs AMA to advocate for legislation to provide funding for research, prevention, control, and treatment of post-viral syndromes and long-term sequelae associated with viral infections, such as COVID-19 and AMA provide physicians and medical students with accurate and current information on post-viral syndromes and long-term sequelae associated with viral infections, such as COVID-19; and further that AMA collaborate with other medical and educational entities to promote education among patients about post-viral syndromes and long-term sequelae associated with viral infections, such as COVID-19, to minimize the harm and disability current and future patients face. (Directive to Take Action)

Medical misinformation in the age of social media (Directive to Take Action)

AMA encourage social media organizations to further strengthen their content moderation policies related to medical misinformation, including, but not limited to, enhanced content monitoring, augmentation of recommendation engines focused on false information, and stronger integration of verified health information. AMA should encourage social media organizations to recognize the spread of medical misinformation over dissemination networks and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, and work with public health agencies to establish relationships with journalists and news agencies to enhance the public reach in disseminating accurate medical information.

Promoting equity in global vaccine distribution

AMA call for the cooperation of all governments and international agencies to share data, research, and resources for the production and distribution of medicines, vaccines, and personal protective equipment (Directive to Take Action); and be it further, AMA promote and support efforts to supply COVID vaccines to 21health care agencies in other parts of the world to be administered to individuals who can’t afford them. (Directive to Take Action). AMA urge the US government to provide all possible assistance, including surplus vaccines and vaccines that have not had emergency use authorization, to the citizens of India and other countries in a similar situation in this humanitarian crisis (New HOD Policy).

CHEST has taken an active role in promoting equity in health care and vaccine distribution in partnership with the American Lung Association and the American Thoracic Society, including establishing a research grant program focused on this topic.
 

Addressing inflammatory and untruthful online ratings (Directive to Take Action)

AMA take action that would urge online review organizations to create internal mechanisms ensuring due process to physicians before the publication of negative reviews.

This is just a small sampling of the activities and more information, including reports from the various Councils, are available on the AMA website.

CHEST members interested in the AMA policy-making process may observe any AMA-HOD meeting or participate in the AMA’s democratic processes. Attendees will also be able to increase their knowledge and skills at no cost. They will also be able to connect with more than 1,500 peers and other meeting attendees from across the country. CHEST members with the time (there are two 5-day meetings each year) and interest are invited to apply to be an official CHEST delegate to the AMA. Contact Suzanne Sletto at ssletto@chestnet.org for details.

Delegates and alternate delegates to the House of Delegates (HOD) play a critical role in the democratic policy-making process that is the foundation of the AMA. Their role is multi-dimensional and includes:

• Advocacy for patients within the HOD to improve the health of the public and the health care system;
• Representation of the perspectives of their sponsoring organization to the HOD;
• Representation of their physician and medical student constituents in the decision-making process of the HOD;
• Representation of the AMA and its House of Delegates to member and nonmember physicians, medical associations, and others; and
• Solicitation of input from and provision of feedback to constituents.

Also, HOD delegates and alternate delegates are expected to foster a positive and useful two-way relationship between grassroots physicians and the CHEST leadership.
 

Dr. Desai is with the Chicago Chest Center and AMITA Health Suburban Lung Associates; and the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago.