American Medical Association Moving Medicine Forward

1. American Medical AssociationMoving Medicine Forward

2. The AMA is the one physician organization that represents all physicians and has the strength to address important issues that affect all physicians—from expanding health coverage to fighting for SGR repeal to building consensus for medical liability reform. The AMA is consistently in the thick of the debate, helping to shape opinion, policy and legislation to make positive differences in the lives of physicians and patients nationwide. AMA Mission & Vision

3. AMA History Leading advocate for physicians and patients Researches AIDS and health care delivery issues Advocates for higher medical education training standards Tackles political and public health issues the 1980s the 2000s 1900 to 1920 1941 to 1960 the 1990s 1847 to 1899 1921 to 1940 1961 to 1979 Advances in high-tech medicine bring ethical, financial and political pressures that AMA works to address Addresses insurance and public health concerns Birth of AMA specialty journals Founding years

4. How AMA Sets Policy Resolutions from: Reports from: Board of Trustees • Delegations: • State Societies • Specialty Societies • AMA Councils: • Constitution & Bylaws • Legislation • Long-Range Planning • & Development • Medical Service • Science & Public Health • Medical Education • Sections: • Resident & Fellow Section • -Medical Student Section • Medical Schools Section • Organized Med. Staff • Section • Young Physicians Section • Intl Medical Grad. Section • Minority Affairs Consortium House of Delegates Reference Committees Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs Full House Session • Others: • Military Branches • Individual Delegates Special HoD Committees Possible Actions - Adopt - Refer - File - Not Adopt

5. How Am I Represented? How the Representation Process Works: • Each year, members receive a ballot to designate the specialty society they wish to represent them in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD). Each AMA member is allowed one vote, and for every 1,000 votes received, the designated society receives one additional HOD delegate. • In addition, each state society receives a delegate for every 1,000 AMA members who are residents of their state. • More delegates mean a stronger voice for your state and specialty! How the House of Delegates Works: • All 50 states and 116 specialty societies in 2012 are represented in the House of Delegates, which meets twice a year to define and vote on key AMA policy positions on a multitude of health system and patient care issues. • The AMA’s advocacy positions are shaped by the HOD – the primary policymaking body of medicine – which is made up of delegates designated by members of national specialty and state medical societies. How Can I Participate? • Prior to the meetings, you can comment on proposed HOD resolutions online at: ama-assn.org/go/hodrefcom.

6. How’s My Voice Heard? Board of Trustees House of Delegates AMA Councils Member Groups and Sections Affiliate Groups & Member Communities AMA Office Hours Participate in regular conference calls that offer you the chance to ask a question or share a concern directly with the AMA president: ama-assn.org/go/officehours. Virtual Reference Committee: Comment on Resolutions Prior to the AMA meetings, members can comment on proposed HOD resolutions online at ama-assn.org/go/hodrefcom to ensure your voice is heard even if you can’t attend. Get Involved! Visit ama-assn.org/go/getinvolved to contribute your voice to AMA advocacy efforts. • Share your input through “Office Hours”.

7. AMA Centers Engaged in Advocacy The AMA is your national advocate, speaking as one voice on behalf of doctors and the profession of medicine. Litigation Center Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) Grassroots Action Center Patient’s Action Network Private Sector Advocacy Practice Management Center Center for Economic & Health Policy Research

8. AMA Advocacy Agenda The AMA is aggressively involved in advocacy efforts related to the most vital issues in medicine today, including: Medical liability reform Medicare physician payment reform Affordable Care Act Improving public health Managed care reform

9. Membership Pays for Itself…And Then Some: Member Benefits Values Free print & online JAMA subscription, including CME courses $165 Free online subscription to 9 Archives Journals, including 6 with CME courses Up to $180 per journal Complimentary physician profiles $35 per profile Six free CPT Coding inquiries $480 American Medical News $160 Free JAMA/Archives CME $35-$50 per Journal Physician Employment Model Contracts to assist as you negotiate agreements with groups and/or hospitals $149 per agreement Total Value More than $1,000!

10. What YOU need …When YOU need it … AMA offers specific resources throughout your career, such as complimentary CME, networking and leadership opportunities, quality and performance improvement tools, and more. In addition to the overall benefits you receive as a member…

11. As an AMA Member, YOU Help Make a Difference: With your help, we have successfully completed efforts such as: Fighting unfair regulatory burdens. The AMA persuaded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to add more exemptions for physicians who have difficulties meeting requirements for the ePrescribing program and convinced CMS to lower the threshold for successful reporting under the Physician Quality Reporting System from 80 percent to 50 percent. Medical Liability Reform. AMA is strongly urging Congress to pass a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages as well as provide funding for state-based pilot programs to develop promising alternative reforms (early disclosure and compensation programs, safe harbors for the practice of evidence-based medicine, health courts). Reforming SGR/Medicare. AMA secured introduction of legislation in the House and Senate to ease Medicare restrictions on private contracting between physicians and their patients, and convened an SGR Task Force comprising state and specialty medical societies to develop a common approach for repealing the SGR and implementing a new Medicare physician payment system. Protecting Scope of Practice. The AMA helped defeat optometrists’ attempts to perform eye surgery in West Virginia, lay midwives’ attempts to treat complicated pregnancies in Wyoming, psychologists’ attempts to prescribe powerful medications in Oregon and nurse practitioners’ push for independent practice in several states.

12. Driver or Passenger? Don’t let others make critical decisions about your future and career … … Join our efforts to ensure your voice is heard for yourself, your patients and the physician community.

13. Your Membership Plays a Critical Part in AMA’s Success Together, We Are Stronger

14. How to Join/Renew AMA Membership Mail in your application received from AMA Call (800) 262-3211 Visit ama-assn.org