Physicians and medical students from across the country gathered at the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates to debate, shape, and adopt policies addressing some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges. From physician workforce concerns and public health initiatives to advancements in medical education, technology, and patient care, the newly adopted policies reflect the priorities of the nation’s largest physician organization. Here’s a look at some of the key actions and policy decisions emerging from this year’s meeting.
AMA policies to ensure AI supports—not replaces—physician judgment
Physicians and medical students adopted new policies to ensure AI strengthens patient care, supports evidence-based medicine, and remains under the oversight of physicians rather than replacing physician judgment. The policies address the growing use of AI in both clinical decision support and health insurance coverage determinations, establishing principles that AI should serve as an assistive tool—not an autonomous decision-maker—and that transparency, accountability, and physician oversight are essential whenever AI is used in patient care.
AMA adopts new public health policies to improve health of nation
Physician and medical student leaders gathered from all corners of medicine to shape guiding policies on emerging health care topics. The new policies adopted on the second day of voting at the AMA Annual Meeting include supporting “food is medicine” interventions to improve health outcomes, protecting the public and firefighters from wildfire toxins, opposing flavored vaping products to protect youth, advocating for restoring EPA’s Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards, and improving public awareness of lung cancer screening.
AMA strengthens opposition to corporate practice of medicine
Physicians and medical students adopted a sweeping policy refining the organization’s longstanding opposition to the corporate practice of medicine. The new policy establishes some of the most specific AMA guidance to date intending to protect physician autonomy and patient care from corporate influence. The policy significantly revises previous policy concerning corporate investors and corporate entities in physician practices. The new language reinforces that physician practices should remain under the ownership, governance, and clinical control of licensed physicians, and it explicitly opposes corporate arrangements that are thought to allow non-licensed entities to exercise direct or indirect control over medical practice.
AMA adopts new policies to improve affordable access to obesity treatments
Physicians and medical students adopted new policies aimed at improving patient access to evidence-based obesity treatments while advancing broader efforts to address prescription drug affordability and insurance coverage barriers. The new policies build upon longstanding AMA policy supporting affordable access to prescription medications, prescription drug price transparency, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) oversight, and coverage parity for evidence-based obesity treatment.
AMA adopts policy calling for exemptions for Medicaid work requirements
Physicians and medical students adopted new policy urging federal and state policymakers to ensure that Medicaid work requirements are implemented in a manner that protects patients with serious medical needs while minimizing administrative burdens on patients and physicians. The policy was approved as states prepare to implement work and community-engagement requirements under recently enacted federal regulations.
AMA adopts policies to improve osteoporosis education
Physicians and medical students adopted policy to strengthen osteoporosis awareness and advocate for expanded insurance coverage of evidence-based osteoporosis screening and treatment. The policy supports healthy aging by addressing a disease that affects an estimated 10 million Americans (PDF) and can lead to debilitating fractures, loss of mobility, and reduced independence. Another 44 million Americans have low bone density, increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis.
AMA strengthens policy to highlight risks of kratom products
At its annual meeting, the American Medical Association (AMA) expanded its policy on kratom products to underscore the potential harms to children and adolescents and highlight concerns about products containing concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine—known as 7-OH—a potent opioid-like compound found naturally only in trace amounts in the kratom plant.
AMA adopts policies supporting indigenous-led medical education
Physicians and medical students adopted policy to strengthen the physician workforce in Indigenous communities and support efforts to advance Indigenous-led medical schools in the United States. The policies call on the AMA to bring together Tribal Nations, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Indigenous-led organizations, and other partners to explore the development of Indigenous-led medical schools in the United States. The effort will examine issues such as accreditation, financing, and governance.
