American Medical Association Policy-Making Meeting Begins First Day Of Voting

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 10 Nov 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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The physicians of America will convene today to begin voting on proposals that will shape the political and legislative agenda of the nation's largest physician organization.
During the next two days, physicians at the American Medical Association's House of Delegates Meeting will participate in a grassroots democratic forum designed to create a national physician consensus on issues in science, ethics, health policy, public health and medical practice in the United States. This unifying consensus results in policies that become the driving force behind AMA legislative efforts and advocacy programs.

Among the issues that will be voted on today, include:

- State legislation banning text messaging while operating motor vehicles;
- Federal legislation banning the use of trans fats in restaurants and bakeries;
- Eliminating the shortage of primary care physicians;
- Strategies to promote physicians practices in underserved areas;
- Health effects of global climate change;
- Endorsing "green" initiatives and waste management policies;
- Enhancing programs that prepare minority students for careers as physicians.

The AMA House of Delegates will convene for voting this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (ET) in the Palms Ballroom at the Marriott Orlando World Center. This legislative session is expected to proceed until 6:00 p.m. (ET). Additional proposals will be called for a vote on Tuesday, November 11.

For a comprehensive list of the items to be considered by the House of Delegates, please visit the AMA Web site at: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/16552.html The AMA House of Delegates is open to members of the press. To arrange for press credentials, or to receive additional details on the meeting, please contact AMA Media Relations at: (312) 464-4430.

WHAT

Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates

WHERE

Orlando World Center Marriott
8701 World Center Drive
Orlando, Florida

WHEN

Saturday, November 8, through Tuesday, November 11.
For additional details, please see the tentative meeting schedule.

CONTACTS

AMA Pressroom (Orlando) - (407) 238-4215
AMA Media Relations (Chicago) - (312) 464-4430
AMA Media Relations (Washington) - (202) 789-7400

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 Pressroom at: (407) 238-4215.

NEWS CONFERENCES

The AMA will hold two news conferences during the meeting to discuss the impact of policies resolved by the House of Delegates. The news conferences are tentatively scheduled for:

Monday, November 10 at 6:00 pm (ET)
Tuesday, November 11 at 1:00 pm (ET)

Times are subject to change. Please contact the AMA Pressroom to receive updates.
News conferences will be held in the AMA Press Availability Room located in the Sago-Sabel section of the Palms Ballroom at the Marriott Orlando World Center. For additional information regarding news conferences, please contact the AMA Pressroom at: (407) 238-4215.

TODAY'S EVENTS

All events will take place at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Times and room locations are subject to change. Please contact AMA Media Relations to receive updates.

Special Presentation
AMA Proposal for Reform: Expanding Coverage and Choice
8:00 am (ET) in Grand Ballroom 7B
This education session will discuss the political hot topic of health care reform and highlight effective reforms that could improve the nation's system for delivering medical care. The AMA will present a historical review on the development of AMA policy for expanding insurance coverage and choice, and provide a legislative analysis concerning the AMA proposal for reform. Also included in this presentation is an outline of the "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign, a multi-million dollar effort launched by the AMA to ensure meaningful health care reform is at the top of the national agenda in 2009.

Special Presentation
Women in Combat: New Challenges for Medicine and Society
9:00 am (ET) in Crystal Ballroom M/N
The AMA Women Physicians Congress is sponsoring an education session on the physical, psychological, social and tactical concerns for women in the military, including issues of sex discrimination and work/life adjustments. Presentations will also address the long-term ramifications for patients, families and the health care system of new life saving techniques from the war in Iraq.

Special Presentation
American College of Emergency Physicians: Emergency Medicine Update
9:30 am (ET) in Crystal Ballroom E & G2

Studies report that our nation's ability to deliver emergency care is seriously compromised by a range of complex issues. A panel representing the perspectives of hospitals, on-call physicians, "in the trenches" emergency physicians, and policy thought leaders will explore these challenges and collaborative solutions. Panelists will present effective, proven methods to address these problems and their crippling impact on the delivery of timely, quality emergency care.

American Medical Association