AMA delegates may move on from Obamacare debate

When the American Medical Association House of Delegates meets in Chicago for its annual policymaking meeting this week, conservative doctors are unlikely to again take center stage in battling to roll back AMA support for the pillars of Obamacare.

Instead, the agenda for the June 7-11 meeting suggests the 945 delegates and alternates will take a forward look at issues such as telemedicine, practice sustainability and the role of physicians in leading team-based care and coping with value-based payment models. They also will consider a wide range of public health issues, including taxing ammunition and the safety of headers in youth soccer.

Still, the Obamacare debate is not over. The delegates will consider a report on redefining AMA positions on healthcare reform. There also will be the annual ritual of voting to halt the implementation of ICD-10 codes.

Dr. Robert Wah, chief medical officer for Computer Sciences Corp., will succeed Dr. Ardis Dee Hoven as president. His successor will be Dr. Steven Stack, an emergency physician at St. Joseph East hospital in Lexington, Ky., who is running unopposed for president-elect. Eight candidates, including three incumbents, are competing for five open board seats. Dr. Barbara McAneny, an Albuquerque oncologist who is chair-elect, will have to win her election to take over as chair.

The 228,000-member AMA saw its third straight year of increased membership in 2013. But its streak of 13 straight years of showing an operating surplus came to an end. The costs of relocating its downtown Chicago headquarters led to a $15.1 million loss for the year despite a 2.4% revenue increase.

Follow Andis Robeznieks on Twitter: @MHARobeznieks