02/02/12

AMDA recently asked its members to join or renew their American Medical Association memberships to help AMDA maintain its seat in the AMA House of Delegates. The response has shown the tremendous level of support members have for AMDA and their commitment to ensuring that long-term care medicine has a voice in national policy and legislation in the coming years.

AMDA received more than 200 personal replies to an e-mail blast to the membership on this issue. AMDA members not supporting the AMA gave various reasons. Many expressed a concern that the organization is too politicized and unsupportive of primary care physicians. Others said that membership was too expensive, especially when they have limited budgets for professional memberships and meetings.

Despite their concerns and reservations, many AMDA members said that they would pay their AMA dues to support AMDA. One member wrote, “[I will] join AMA for the first time in my 31 years of medical practice.... I do this because AMDA has been a very effective voice for myself and other long-term care physicians.”Another AMDA member—who agreed to join the AMA for the first time in 35 years of practice—said, “I believe in what AMDA is doing and will continue to do so.” Still another, while expressing opposition to the AMA’s position on issues such as health care reform, said “I am committed to AMDA, an organization which values my work and my opinion and is tirelessly supportive of LTC physicians.”

Many members also acknowledged the benefits to long-term care medicine of having a presence in the AMA House of Delegates. One said, “It really is important that we are a part of the political process afforded by a recognized position in the AMA. The need is only going to increase as health care policy dominates more of our work environment.”

Several recent articles in this and other AMDA publications documented the benefits and triumphs AMDA and long-term care physicians have obtained from their presence in the AMA. These include successful advocacy on physician payment and national recognition of AMDA resolutions and positions.

There is still time for physicians to support AMDA by joining or renewing their membership at www.ama-assn.org/go/join. If you need help, AMDA staff can walk you through the online process. Call the AMDA office at 410-740-9543.

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