DJP Update 6-19-2012 Defined Contribution for Medicare decision at AMA House of Delegates = Accepted
For background, see DJP Updates 6-12-2012 through 6-16-2012 at:
www.DJPupdate.com
AMA House of Delegates accepted Late Louisiana Resolution 1001 on this issue and it became Resolution 126. After extensive testimony by members of House of Delegates and co-sponsorship by more than a dozen state and specialty societies, the Reference Committee A worked through the night and came up with a substitute resolution 126.
The substitute states:
RECOMMENDATION A:
RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association refine its policy regarding Medicare financing options, including a defined contribution program that would allow beneficiaries to purchase tradiitional Medicare or a private health insurance plan through a market place of competing health plans approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or its designee. Our AMA should consider mechanisms to adjust contributions in order to ensure that health insurance coverage remains affordable for all beneficiaries (Directive to Take Action); and be it further
RESOLVED, That our AMA report back to the House of Delegates at the 2012 Interim Meeting (Directive to Take Action.).
RECOMMENDATION B:
Mr. Speaker, your Reference Committee recommends that the title of Resolution 126 be changed to read as follows:
MEDICARE FINANCING OPTIONS
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It was pulled from consent calendar by a delegate and thus went for full debate. The Reference Committee substitute resolution passed overwhelmingly.
Thanks to all who testified, including LSMS members who testified at Ref Committee (Dr. Jeff White, Dr. Keith DeSonier, and Dr. Stormy Johnson), and to those societies who co-sponsored. And thanks to those who spoke in favor at HoD. Thanks to the Reference Committee A for all of their hard work. And thanks to AMA House of Delegates for continuing to support long-standing AMA policy.
Stay well.
Donald
Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD
DJP@donaldpalmisano.com
504-455-5895
www.onleadership.us
Below are the comments of the LSMS Medical Society in press release:
LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY (LSMS)
La. Physicians Champion Effort to Have American Medical Association (AMA)
Study Expansion of Medicare Coverage Options
AMA to Study Affordable Market-Based System
CHICAGO – Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS) members attending the American Medical
Association (AMA) Annual Meeting this week in Chicago were successful in convincing the nation’s
largest physician organization to commit to studying critical policy issues associated with introducing
choice into the Medicare program.
“Medicare beneficiaries should be given the choice to remain in the current Medicare system or to
move to a new defined contribution system,” said AMA Past President Daniel H. Johnson, Jr., MD. Dr.
Johnson pointed out that in the future, beneficiaries could purchase coverage of their choice through a
marketplace of competing health plans, which would be subject to appropriate regulation.
The AMA House of Delegates, the principal policy-making body of the organization, directed that a full
report of a defined contribution system for Medicare be prepared. Existing policies of the AMA
recommend a system of expanded Medicare coverage options. Known as “defined contribution,” this
system allows Medicare beneficiaries to use a government contribution to purchase traditional fee-for-
service Medicare coverage or another health insurance plan approved by Medicare. Particular focus will
be on how beneficiaries with low incomes and high medical costs would be protected under a defined
contribution program.
Over time, AMA policy supports a gradual shift of the current Medicare program to a self-funded,
private-sector approach to financing health care for the elderly, with equitable means testing provisions.
“Our fundamental goal in transforming Medicare should be to assure the health of the elderly and
disabled while preserving access to high quality medical services,” said Keith DeSonier, MD, chair for the
LSMS’ AMA Delegation.
Dr. Johnson is from Metairie and is a past president of the LSMS. Dr. DeSonier is from Lake Charles and
serves at the chair for the LSMS’ Council on Legislation in addition to leading the LSMS’ AMA Delegation.
About Louisiana State Medical Society
Established in 1878, the Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS) serves as the premier advocate for
patients and physicians. The LSMS is the largest voluntary physician organization in the state and
represents all specialties. Please visit the LSMS online at www.LSMS.org for more information.
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Contact:
Sadie D. Wilks, Director of Communication
(225) 763-8500 or (800) 375-9508
sadie@lsms.org • www.lsms.org
Twitter: @LaMedSoc