ARTICLE
ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE 2022 MAG HOUSE OF DELEGATES Consent Calendar Appendix I, II and III Adopted Appendix I, II and III of the Consent Calendar with no extractions Reference Committee A Resolution 101A.22, Resolve 1, Care Management Codes Adoption and Medicare Payment Parity for Georgia Medicaid Adopted Resolve 1, that the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) advocate to the Department of Community Health for codes associated with Chronic Care Management (CCM), Principal Care Management (PCM), Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) and Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) to be opened and to be paid at the Medicare parity rate by all Medicaid insurance programs, including Fee-for-Service. Resolution 102A.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3 and 4, Climate Solutions are Health Solutions DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 1 calling for MAG to declare climate change a public health crisis that threatens the health and well-being of all Georgians. DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 2 calling for MAG to acknowledge the data-driven scientific consensus that climate change disproportionately impacts our resource-poor populations and racial ethnic minorities in Georgia. DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 3 calling for MAG to advocate for a transition to clean energy in Georgia to enable our patients to improve health from co-benefits of reducing fossil fuel emissions. DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 4 calling for MAG to create a Climate and Health Equity Task Force to provide education, advocacy and community collaboration initiatives and strategies MAG, other healthcare organizations and medical practices in Georgia can take to decarbonize our organizations. Resolution 103A.22, Resolve 1, Cost of Insulin Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to urge Congress to mandate coverage of any generic insulin approved by the FDA at no more than $35 for a one-month supply for any patient, insured or uninsured, without prior authorization. Resolution 104A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Development of a Georgia Trauma Consortium Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG should act as a catalyst to open lines of communication and collaboration by convening through the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission a single or a series of forums involving medical providers, state officials and medical institutions aimed at developing collaborative solutions to Georgia’s trauma care crisis. Adopted Resolve 2, that MAG reaffirm policy supportive of funding and establishment of a functional statewide trauma network and collaborative trauma consortium led by physician trauma care providers meeting at least quarterly to address organizational and operational issues within the trauma network. Resolution 105A.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Correctional Medicine Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG adopt the following Medical Bill of Rights for detained and incarcerated persons in reference to patients presenting under custody for medical evaluation: ADULT DETAINED AND INCARCERATED PERSONS WITH DECISION-MAKING CAPACITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO: Medical neutrality; equal treatment regardless of their status as a detained or incarcerated person. Speak with their provider privately in cooperation with the accompanying officer with respect to facilitating a safe and secure medical provider and patient care environment. The removal of physical restraints for the purpose of a physical exam in cooperation with the accompanying officer with respect to facilitating a safe and secure medical provider and patient care environment. Medical care at a facility that has a protocol for and supports quality analysis of medical care. Privacy and protection from inquiry regarding charges, conviction or duration of sentence unless expressly pertinent to delivery of care. Written informed consent; to be adequately informed of diagnoses, treatment options, risks and alternatives, and follow-up plans unless there is an impact to security. Written refusal of care and diagnostic testing, including nutrition, laboratory studies, medications and procedures, with the exception of psychoactive medications if the patient is deemed a potential harm to self or others if psychoactive medications are withheld. Make their healthcare decisions independently, if deemed to have the decisional capacity, and to appoint an appropriate surrogate medical decision-maker in the event they no longer have the decisional capacity. Correctional officers, sheriffs, guards, police officers, prison administrators and other law enforcement officials are not eligible medical decision-makers. Communication with their medical decision-maker according to state laws regardless of the policies of law enforcement or carceral institutions. Adopted as Amended Resolve 2, that MAG work with interested parties and key stakeholders to ensure that patients receiving care in jail or prison are made aware of this Incarcerated Patient Bill of Rights. Adopted Resolve 3, that the MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) submit a resolution to the AMA requesting that the AMA work with interested parties and key stakeholders, including the American College of Emergency Physicians, to develop model federal legislation requiring healthcare facilities to inform patients in custody about their rights as a patient under applicable federal and state law. Resolution 106A.22, Resolve 1, Eye Safety in Youth Sports Adopted Resolve 1, that MAG adopt a policy encouraging the use of protective eyewear and, where appropriate, requirements to wear protective eyewear when participating in youth sports. Resolution 107A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Hospital at Home Programs to Expand Hospital Capacity Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG work with interested stakeholders to support adoption of Hospital at Home programs. DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 2, calling for MAG to advocate that health insurance companies reimburse physicians and hospitals for providing acute care to patients in Hospital at Home programs commensurate with traditional inpatient hospitalization. Resolution 108A.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3 and 4, Improving Incarcerated Patients’ Health Outcomes in Georgia Prisons REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 1, that MAG support legislation at the state level that eliminates all copayments for medical care in state prisons. REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 2, that MAG support legislation at the state level that mandates full air conditioning throughout all Georgia state prisons that are under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Corrections. REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 3, that MAG include in its voluntary accreditation process for state prisons both the presence of adequate air conditioning and the elimination of copayment for medical care as criteria for accreditation. REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 4, that MAG refrain from putting in writing terms such as felon, inmate, convict, offender or similar stigmatizing terms, and instead use terms such as incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person/people or the individual’s name when relevant. Resolution 109A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Medical Student, Resident/Fellow and Physician Voting in Federal, State and Local Elections Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG explore opportunities to educate medical students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians on the importance of advocacy and participation in the electoral process. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG work with appropriate stakeholders (eg. medical schools, training programs and employers) to recommend that medical students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians have sufficient opportunity to execute their right to vote. Resolution 110A.22, Resolve 1, Physician Non-Compete Contracts Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG opposes the use of covenants-not-to-compete for residents and fellows. Resolution 111A.22, Resolve 1, PrEP Access Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG encourage the Department of Public Health to research the barriers to access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) throughout the rural parts of the state and methods for addressing those barriers including 1) insurance plans not covering PrEP as a preventative medication, 2) physicians, specifically primary care, not adequately trained to provide PrEP to patients, 3) uninsured and underinsured patients in the rural area have no access to PrEP and 4) pharmacies not routinely stocking PrEP due to cost and low access in the rural areas. Resolution 112A.22, Resolve 1, Refusal to Fill Legitimate Prescriptions by Pharmacists Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG will advocate for the abolition of the interpretation and subsequent enforcement of pharmacy regulation in a manner that limits or restricts physician prescriptions. Resolution 113A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Regulatory Overreach in the Enforcement of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 1, calling for MAG to support regulatory and legislative reform to preserve the original intent of EMTALA legislation but limit the overreach of EMTALA to the defined law. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG advocate for protections for physicians and health systems from unduly burdensome and inappropriate interpretations of EMTALA. Resolution 114A.22 Resolves 1 and 2, Repairing the Disconnect of Border Physicians REFERRED to the Board of Directors, Resolve 1, that MAG create a task force to study the feasibility of developing policies that will create more incentive for border physicians to be involved with MAG, not just the local county medical society. These policies may include but are not limited to (1) joint membership with a contiguous state, (2) informing these physicians of the benefit of being part of MAG, as well as their other state society and (3) potential engagement with border hospital systems to negotiate pathways for physicians who practice in two states to have state society membership in both states. REFERRED to the Board of Directors, Resolve 2, that MAG leaders, once policies are developed, engage with other contiguous state medical society leaders to create innovative ways that will allow both state societies to benefit by cooperating with each other in the border counties. Resolution 115A.22, Resolve 1, Resident Physician Authority Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports resident physician authority, responsibility and decision-making capability based on Georgia Code 31-39-4 to allow resident physicians (post-graduate year 2 or later) involved in a patient’s care to temporarily issue an order not to resuscitate until an attending is able to co-sign the order. Resolution 116A.22, Resolve 1, Safeguarding the Medical Home and the Patient-Physician Relationship in Telehealth Service Models Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work to ensure that health insurance plans cannot prevent or limit in-network physicians from providing telehealth services to their patients either by forming exclusive contracts with direct-to-consumer telehealth providers or other contracted physicians or by “steering” patients to direct-to-consumer telehealth providers through lower cost-sharing or other incentives. Resolution 117A.22, Resolve 1, Specialty-Specific Supervision of Mid-Level Providers Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports enforcement mechanisms to ensure that physicians and the Advance Practice Providers (APP) they supervise are in comparable specialty areas or fields and that patients are educated on the APP’s specialty clinical training and are given the name and specialty of the supervising physician. Resolution 118A.22, Resolve 1, State Health Benefit Plan Purchasing Decisions DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 1, calling for MAG to advocate for and support any and all efforts, whether planned or currently underway, to research pricing and processes within the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan as an aide to better purchasing decisions for pharmaceuticals and medical procedures, with the goal being lower costs for patients in Georgia. Special Report 11.22, Recommendation 1, Taskforce on Diversity and Inclusion Adopted, Recommendation 1, the purpose of this statement is to improve healthcare and health outcomes for our patients and communities. We also strive to improve healthcare workplaces and the profession of medicine in Georgia. MAG acknowledges that racism in its various forms and health inequities continue to exist in our society. Racism hurts our patients physically, mentally and socially. By practicing empathy for the experiences, concerns and perspectives of patients, colleagues and communities who have experienced or continue to experience racism, physicians can improve health. Racism at all levels, from the individual to the societal, has negative consequences on health outcomes and has caused and continues to cause health inequities. MAG is committed to ensuring racial equity in medicine for our patients, physicians and other healthcare professionals; ensuring that every patient is treated with dignity and respect; and working to address inequities in health, medical education and research through advocacy and other actions. Reference Committee C Resolution 301C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, CON for the Walker Catoosa Dade Hospital Authority Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports the local control of Certificates of Need, as long as they continue to exist under state law. DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 2, calling for MAG to recommend and support the Department of Community Health returning the Certificate of Need, for such times as this process exists under state law, to the Walker Catoosa Dade Hospital Authority for determinations regarding the establishment of or changes to hospital services within the geographic boundaries of their authority for the benefit of the citizens under their governance. Resolve 302C.22, Resolve 1, Contraception Access Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports access to contraceptive care and methods, including emergency contraception, and opposes legislation limiting such access or placing barriers to accessing contraception in Georgia. Resolve 303C.22, Resolve 1, Emergency Medical Care Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation to protect access to emergency reproductive healthcare. Resolve 304C.22, Resolve 1, Increased Funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG endorses increased funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) with the goal of eliminating waitlists for services that support Georgia family caregivers to keep loved ones aging at home. Resolve 305C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Legislative Reform of Georgia Code “Examination, Hospitalization and Treatment of Involuntary Patients” (O.C.G.A § 37-3-41) and Support for Mental Health Resource Funding Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work with stakeholders to support regulatory and legislative reform to address issues related to access and the process for examination, hospitalization and treatment of involuntary patients. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG supports protections for physicians from unduly burdensome and inappropriate litigation related to involuntary commitment of mental health patients. Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG advocate for additional behavioral health resources to appropriately support Georgians having a mental health crisis. Resolve 306C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Liability for Insurers and PBMs for Prior Authorization Decisions Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG advocate for insurers to be held liable for claims arising from delayed or denied treatment or care prescribed by a physician, including bad outcomes that could have been prevented but for the delay or failure to receive care due to a denial of a prior authorization due to a determination that such care or treatment was not medically necessary. Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG advocate for pharmacy benefit managers to be held liable for claims arising from delayed or denied treatment or care prescribed by a physician, including bad outcomes that could have been prevented but for the delay or failure to receive care due to a denial of a prior authorization due to a determination that such care or treatment was not medically necessary. Resolve 307C.22, Resolve 1, List of Appropriate Alternate Medications on Formulary Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports a requirement for all insurers to provide a list of appropriate alternate medications on formulary, including the tier level and the patient’s co-pay for each medication, simultaneously upon notifying a physician or patient of non-formulary status when a patient attempts to fill a prescription. Resolve 308C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Medical Spa Safety Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work with the Composite Medical Board to support legislation outlining the regulations of medical spas including: Medical spa licensing Medical director qualifications Identification of the medical director, physicians and non-physician providers within the facility and on advertisements Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG work with the Composite Medical Board to support legislation outlining regulations on the administration of outpatient cosmetic medical procedures including: Defining cosmetic medical procedures as “the practice of medicine” Qualifications and training required by nonphysician providers Prescription, delegation and supervision requirements for the administration of these procedures Facility requirements for the administration of these procedures Disciplinary actions Adopted as Amended, Resolve 3, that MAG supports efforts to educate consumers on the differences between various healthcare nonphysician providers, Georgia scope of practice laws and what questions to ask their provider prior to receiving elective cosmetic medical procedures. Resolution 309C.22, Resolve 1, Opposing Criminalization of Women Seeking Care for Abortion Complications Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG opposes criminalization of women seeking care for abortion complications. Resolution 310C.22, Resolve 1, 2 and 3, Patient Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation that requires coverage of prescribed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for Georgia patients. Coverage should not include a requirement for four times daily fingersticks, a requirement for insulin dosing frequency or requirements for prior authorization, and should be in alignment with standards of care. DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 2, calling for MAG to advocate for Medicaid coverage to enable patient access to CGM by partnering with people with diabetes, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and policy makers to address disparities with CGM access in Medicaid programs. Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to amend policy H-330.885 to include coverage of continuous glucose monitoring for patients with diabetes who are not insulin-dependent. Resolution 311C.22, Resolve 1, Patient Privacy Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation to protect patient information related to reproductive healthcare from disclosure without patient consent. Resolution 312C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 1, calling for MAG to support legislation that preserves the autonomy of all pregnant patients and shared decision-making within the patient-physician relationship, without the interference of non-medical professionals. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG supports legislation that promotes access to reproductive care for all Georgians, including provision of termination of pregnancy (abortion). Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG supports legislation that ensures that physician training programs in Georgia teach comprehensive reproductive health practices, including all medical and surgical techniques for abortion established as national core residency competencies. Resolution 313C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, State Health Benefit Plan Participation Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG advocate that any vendor or its subsidiaries that seek to contract with the Department of Community Health (DCH) to serve as an administrator of or as a care management organization (CMO) or as a healthcare maintenance organization (HMO) be prohibited by the State of Georgia from soliciting or applying for any business with DCH for a period of four years from the date that entity enters into a corrective action plan with the state of Georgia and voluntarily or involuntarily remits payment over $100,000 as a result of such corrective action plan. Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG advocates that any insurer who has entered into a corrective action plan with the state of Georgia be required to utilize Medicare guidelines and practices for the purposes of retrospective auditing and new claims submissions for the duration of the corrective action plan. Resolution 314C.22, Resolve 1, Urging Support for Introduction and Passage of Title Misappropriation Legislation Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports public policy and law that protects patient safety and promotes clarity in healthcare decision-making through the prohibition of non-physician use of medical and medical specialty titles and supports instituting strict requirements for proper title use by all physicians and non-physicians. Resolution 315C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Insurance Coverage of FDA-Approved Medications and Devices Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports prohibiting the use of the rationale for denial that a medication or device is experimental by insurance companies where such medication or device has been approved by the FDA for one year or longer and has peer-reviewed evidence supporting its use in the manner in which it was prescribed. Adopted, Resolve 2, that the MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to support prohibiting the use of the rationale for denial that a medication or device is experimental by insurance companies where such medication or device has been approved by the FDA for one year or longer and has peer-reviewed evidence supporting its use in the manner in which it was prescribed. Reference Committee F Resolution 401F.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Representation of Bartow County Physicians in MAG Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG remove Bartow County as a part of the Rome Medical Society. Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG grant the Bartow County Medical Association a charter as a Component Medical Society pending approval of the bylaws by the MAG Board of Directors. Officer 03.22, Treasurer Filed Officer 03.22, the Treasurer’s Annual Report. Officer 06.22, AMA Delegation Accepted Officer 06.22, the AMA Delegation Annual Report. Reference Committee on Constitution and Bylaws Resolution 501CB.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Financial Conflicts of Interest Disclosure by Officers and Directors Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG will amend its bylaws to require all Officers and Directors to complete an annual disclosure of all conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws provided the following amendment to the MAG Bylaws: CHAPTER VI – Board of Directors … SECTION 7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) All directors and alternate directors shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Chapter VII – ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS … SECTION 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) All officers shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG will publish this disclosure on its website for member-only access. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 3, that MAG will require in its bylaws that annual disclosure follow the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates. Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws provided the following amendment to the MAG Bylaws: CHAPTER VI – Board of Directors … SECTION 7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) All directors and alternate directors shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Such disclosure shall comply with the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates. Chapter VII – ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS … SECTION 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) All officers shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Such disclosure shall comply with the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates. Adopted as Amended, Resolve 4, that MAG will amend its bylaws to require that the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting. Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws provided the following amendment to the MAG Bylaws: CHAPTER VI – Board of Directors … SECTION 7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. … (b) The conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates shall outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting. Chapter VII – ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS … SECTION 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. … (b) The conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates shall outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting. DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 5, calling for MAG to allow any member bound by the conflict of interest restrictions in its bylaws to request excusal from the obligation to recuse themselves in advance of a discussion or vote, with the excusal limited to a single identified event and arbitrated by the E.C. whose decision is final. Resolution 502CB.22, Resolve 1, Medical Student Membership Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG bylaws be amended to allow students at international medical schools whose accreditation has been recognized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and who are currently receiving training and/or education in the state of Georgia to become MAG student members. Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws provided the following amendment to the MAG Bylaws: CHAPTER II – MEMBERSHIP … SECTION 9. STUDENT MEMBERS. Any person may become a Student Member of this Association upon proof that such person is a student in good standing at a medical school approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the Committee on Colleges, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association or a student at an international medical school whose accreditation has been recognized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and who are currently receiving training and/or education in the state of Georgia. Student Members may not vote nor hold office except that they may vote when serving as members of MAG committees on issues submitted to a vote of such committees, and when serving as a voting Delegate representing the Medical Student Section in the House of Delegates and when serving as a voting Director representing the Medical Student Section on the Board of Directors. Special Report 12.22, Recommendation 1, Presidential Succession Line Task Force DID NOT ADOPT, Recommendation 1, calling for the MAG Bylaws be updated to include a requirement that a candidate for President-Elect have previously served for at least three years on the MAG Executive Committee.
Consent Calendar Appendix I, II and III Adopted Appendix I, II and III of the Consent Calendar with no extractions
Reference Committee A
Resolution 101A.22, Resolve 1, Care Management Codes Adoption and Medicare Payment Parity for Georgia Medicaid
Adopted Resolve 1, that the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) advocate to the Department of Community Health for codes associated with Chronic Care Management (CCM), Principal Care Management (PCM), Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) and Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) to be opened and to be paid at the Medicare parity rate by all Medicaid insurance programs, including Fee-for-Service.
Resolution 102A.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3 and 4, Climate Solutions are Health Solutions
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 1 calling for MAG to declare climate change a public health crisis that threatens the health and well-being of all Georgians.
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 2 calling for MAG to acknowledge the data-driven scientific consensus that climate change disproportionately impacts our resource-poor populations and racial ethnic minorities in Georgia.
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 3 calling for MAG to advocate for a transition to clean energy in Georgia to enable our patients to improve health from co-benefits of reducing fossil fuel emissions.
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 4 calling for MAG to create a Climate and Health Equity Task Force to provide education, advocacy and community collaboration initiatives and strategies MAG, other healthcare organizations and medical practices in Georgia can take to decarbonize our organizations.
Resolution 103A.22, Resolve 1, Cost of Insulin
Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to urge Congress to mandate coverage of any generic insulin approved by the FDA at no more than $35 for a one-month supply for any patient, insured or uninsured, without prior authorization.
Resolution 104A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Development of a Georgia Trauma Consortium
Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG should act as a catalyst to open lines of communication and collaboration by convening through the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission a single or a series of forums involving medical providers, state officials and medical institutions aimed at developing collaborative solutions to Georgia’s trauma care crisis.
Adopted Resolve 2, that MAG reaffirm policy supportive of funding and establishment of a functional statewide trauma network and collaborative trauma consortium led by physician trauma care providers meeting at least quarterly to address organizational and operational issues within the trauma network.
Resolution 105A.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Correctional Medicine
Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG adopt the following Medical Bill of Rights for detained and incarcerated persons in reference to patients presenting under custody for medical evaluation:
ADULT DETAINED AND INCARCERATED PERSONS WITH DECISION-MAKING CAPACITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO:
Adopted as Amended Resolve 2, that MAG work with interested parties and key stakeholders to ensure that patients receiving care in jail or prison are made aware of this Incarcerated Patient Bill of Rights.
Adopted Resolve 3, that the MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) submit a resolution to the AMA requesting that the AMA work with interested parties and key stakeholders, including the American College of Emergency Physicians, to develop model federal legislation requiring healthcare facilities to inform patients in custody about their rights as a patient under applicable federal and state law.
Resolution 106A.22, Resolve 1, Eye Safety in Youth Sports
Adopted Resolve 1, that MAG adopt a policy encouraging the use of protective eyewear and, where appropriate, requirements to wear protective eyewear when participating in youth sports.
Resolution 107A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Hospital at Home Programs to Expand Hospital Capacity
Adopted as Amended Resolve 1, that MAG work with interested stakeholders to support adoption of Hospital at Home programs.
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 2, calling for MAG to advocate that health insurance companies reimburse physicians and hospitals for providing acute care to patients in Hospital at Home programs commensurate with traditional inpatient hospitalization.
Resolution 108A.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3 and 4, Improving Incarcerated Patients’ Health Outcomes in Georgia Prisons
REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 1, that MAG support legislation at the state level that eliminates all copayments for medical care in state prisons.
REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 2, that MAG support legislation at the state level that mandates full air conditioning throughout all Georgia state prisons that are under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Corrections.
REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 3, that MAG include in its voluntary accreditation process for state prisons both the presence of adequate air conditioning and the elimination of copayment for medical care as criteria for accreditation.
REFERRED to the MAG Board of Directors for recommendation Resolve 4, that MAG refrain from putting in writing terms such as felon, inmate, convict, offender or similar stigmatizing terms, and instead use terms such as incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person/people or the individual’s name when relevant.
Resolution 109A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Medical Student, Resident/Fellow and Physician Voting in Federal, State and Local Elections
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG explore opportunities to educate medical students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians on the importance of advocacy and participation in the electoral process.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG work with appropriate stakeholders (eg. medical schools, training programs and employers) to recommend that medical students, residents, fellows and practicing physicians have sufficient opportunity to execute their right to vote.
Resolution 110A.22, Resolve 1, Physician Non-Compete Contracts
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG opposes the use of covenants-not-to-compete for residents and fellows.
Resolution 111A.22, Resolve 1, PrEP Access
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG encourage the Department of Public Health to research the barriers to access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) throughout the rural parts of the state and methods for addressing those barriers including 1) insurance plans not covering PrEP as a preventative medication, 2) physicians, specifically primary care, not adequately trained to provide PrEP to patients, 3) uninsured and underinsured patients in the rural area have no access to PrEP and 4) pharmacies not routinely stocking PrEP due to cost and low access in the rural areas.
Resolution 112A.22, Resolve 1, Refusal to Fill Legitimate Prescriptions by Pharmacists
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG will advocate for the abolition of the interpretation and subsequent enforcement of pharmacy regulation in a manner that limits or restricts physician prescriptions.
Resolution 113A.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Regulatory Overreach in the Enforcement of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
DID NOT ADOPT Resolve 1, calling for MAG to support regulatory and legislative reform to preserve the original intent of EMTALA legislation but limit the overreach of EMTALA to the defined law.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG advocate for protections for physicians and health systems from unduly burdensome and inappropriate interpretations of EMTALA.
Resolution 114A.22 Resolves 1 and 2, Repairing the Disconnect of Border Physicians
REFERRED to the Board of Directors, Resolve 1, that MAG create a task force to study the feasibility of developing policies that will create more incentive for border physicians to be involved with MAG, not just the local county medical society. These policies may include but are not limited to (1) joint membership with a contiguous state, (2) informing these physicians of the benefit of being part of MAG, as well as their other state society and (3) potential engagement with border hospital systems to negotiate pathways for physicians who practice in two states to have state society membership in both states.
REFERRED to the Board of Directors, Resolve 2, that MAG leaders, once policies are developed, engage with other contiguous state medical society leaders to create innovative ways that will allow both state societies to benefit by cooperating with each other in the border counties.
Resolution 115A.22, Resolve 1, Resident Physician Authority
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports resident physician authority, responsibility and decision-making capability based on Georgia Code 31-39-4 to allow resident physicians (post-graduate year 2 or later) involved in a patient’s care to temporarily issue an order not to resuscitate until an attending is able to co-sign the order.
Resolution 116A.22, Resolve 1, Safeguarding the Medical Home and the Patient-Physician Relationship in Telehealth Service Models
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work to ensure that health insurance plans cannot prevent or limit in-network physicians from providing telehealth services to their patients either by forming exclusive contracts with direct-to-consumer telehealth providers or other contracted physicians or by “steering” patients to direct-to-consumer telehealth providers through lower cost-sharing or other incentives.
Resolution 117A.22, Resolve 1, Specialty-Specific Supervision of Mid-Level Providers
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports enforcement mechanisms to ensure that physicians and the Advance Practice Providers (APP) they supervise are in comparable specialty areas or fields and that patients are educated on the APP’s specialty clinical training and are given the name and specialty of the supervising physician.
Resolution 118A.22, Resolve 1, State Health Benefit Plan Purchasing Decisions
DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 1, calling for MAG to advocate for and support any and all efforts, whether planned or currently underway, to research pricing and processes within the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan as an aide to better purchasing decisions for pharmaceuticals and medical procedures, with the goal being lower costs for patients in Georgia.
Special Report 11.22, Recommendation 1, Taskforce on Diversity and Inclusion
Adopted, Recommendation 1, the purpose of this statement is to improve healthcare and health outcomes for our patients and communities. We also strive to improve healthcare workplaces and the profession of medicine in Georgia.
MAG acknowledges that racism in its various forms and health inequities continue to exist in our society. Racism hurts our patients physically, mentally and socially. By practicing empathy for the experiences, concerns and perspectives of patients, colleagues and communities who have experienced or continue to experience racism, physicians can improve health. Racism at all levels, from the individual to the societal, has negative consequences on health outcomes and has caused and continues to cause health inequities.
MAG is committed to ensuring racial equity in medicine for our patients, physicians and other healthcare professionals; ensuring that every patient is treated with dignity and respect; and working to address inequities in health, medical education and research through advocacy and other actions.
Reference Committee C
Resolution 301C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, CON for the Walker Catoosa Dade Hospital Authority
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports the local control of Certificates of Need, as long as they continue to exist under state law.
DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 2, calling for MAG to recommend and support the Department of Community Health returning the Certificate of Need, for such times as this process exists under state law, to the Walker Catoosa Dade Hospital Authority for determinations regarding the establishment of or changes to hospital services within the geographic boundaries of their authority for the benefit of the citizens under their governance.
Resolve 302C.22, Resolve 1, Contraception Access
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG supports access to contraceptive care and methods, including emergency contraception, and opposes legislation limiting such access or placing barriers to accessing contraception in Georgia.
Resolve 303C.22, Resolve 1, Emergency Medical Care
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation to protect access to emergency reproductive healthcare.
Resolve 304C.22, Resolve 1, Increased Funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG endorses increased funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) with the goal of eliminating waitlists for services that support Georgia family caregivers to keep loved ones aging at home.
Resolve 305C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Legislative Reform of Georgia Code “Examination, Hospitalization and Treatment of Involuntary Patients” (O.C.G.A § 37-3-41) and Support for Mental Health Resource Funding
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work with stakeholders to support regulatory and legislative reform to address issues related to access and the process for examination, hospitalization and treatment of involuntary patients.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG supports protections for physicians from unduly burdensome and inappropriate litigation related to involuntary commitment of mental health patients.
Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG advocate for additional behavioral health resources to appropriately support Georgians having a mental health crisis.
Resolve 306C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Liability for Insurers and PBMs for Prior Authorization Decisions
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG advocate for insurers to be held liable for claims arising from delayed or denied treatment or care prescribed by a physician, including bad outcomes that could have been prevented but for the delay or failure to receive care due to a denial of a prior authorization due to a determination that such care or treatment was not medically necessary.
Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG advocate for pharmacy benefit managers to be held liable for claims arising from delayed or denied treatment or care prescribed by a physician, including bad outcomes that could have been prevented but for the delay or failure to receive care due to a denial of a prior authorization due to a determination that such care or treatment was not medically necessary.
Resolve 307C.22, Resolve 1, List of Appropriate Alternate Medications on Formulary
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports a requirement for all insurers to provide a list of appropriate alternate medications on formulary, including the tier level and the patient’s co-pay for each medication, simultaneously upon notifying a physician or patient of non-formulary status when a patient attempts to fill a prescription.
Resolve 308C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Medical Spa Safety
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG work with the Composite Medical Board to support legislation outlining the regulations of medical spas including:
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG work with the Composite Medical Board to support legislation outlining regulations on the administration of outpatient cosmetic medical procedures including:
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 3, that MAG supports efforts to educate consumers on the differences between various healthcare nonphysician providers, Georgia scope of practice laws and what questions to ask their provider prior to receiving elective cosmetic medical procedures.
Resolution 309C.22, Resolve 1, Opposing Criminalization of Women Seeking Care for Abortion Complications
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG opposes criminalization of women seeking care for abortion complications.
Resolution 310C.22, Resolve 1, 2 and 3, Patient Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation that requires coverage of prescribed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for Georgia patients. Coverage should not include a requirement for four times daily fingersticks, a requirement for insulin dosing frequency or requirements for prior authorization, and should be in alignment with standards of care.
DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 2, calling for MAG to advocate for Medicaid coverage to enable patient access to CGM by partnering with people with diabetes, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and policy makers to address disparities with CGM access in Medicaid programs.
Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to amend policy H-330.885 to include coverage of continuous glucose monitoring for patients with diabetes who are not insulin-dependent.
Resolution 311C.22, Resolve 1, Patient Privacy
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports legislation to protect patient information related to reproductive healthcare from disclosure without patient consent.
Resolution 312C.22, Resolves 1, 2 and 3, Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare
DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 1, calling for MAG to support legislation that preserves the autonomy of all pregnant patients and shared decision-making within the patient-physician relationship, without the interference of non-medical professionals.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG supports legislation that promotes access to reproductive care for all Georgians, including provision of termination of pregnancy (abortion).
Adopted, Resolve 3, that MAG supports legislation that ensures that physician training programs in Georgia teach comprehensive reproductive health practices, including all medical and surgical techniques for abortion established as national core residency competencies.
Resolution 313C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, State Health Benefit Plan Participation
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG advocate that any vendor or its subsidiaries that seek to contract with the Department of Community Health (DCH) to serve as an administrator of or as a care management organization (CMO) or as a healthcare maintenance organization (HMO) be prohibited by the State of Georgia from soliciting or applying for any business with DCH for a period of four years from the date that entity enters into a corrective action plan with the state of Georgia and voluntarily or involuntarily remits payment over $100,000 as a result of such corrective action plan.
Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG advocates that any insurer who has entered into a corrective action plan with the state of Georgia be required to utilize Medicare guidelines and practices for the purposes of retrospective auditing and new claims submissions for the duration of the corrective action plan.
Resolution 314C.22, Resolve 1, Urging Support for Introduction and Passage of Title Misappropriation Legislation
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports public policy and law that protects patient safety and promotes clarity in healthcare decision-making through the prohibition of non-physician use of medical and medical specialty titles and supports instituting strict requirements for proper title use by all physicians and non-physicians.
Resolution 315C.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Insurance Coverage of FDA-Approved Medications and Devices
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG supports prohibiting the use of the rationale for denial that a medication or device is experimental by insurance companies where such medication or device has been approved by the FDA for one year or longer and has peer-reviewed evidence supporting its use in the manner in which it was prescribed.
Adopted, Resolve 2, that the MAG delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) present a resolution asking for the AMA to support prohibiting the use of the rationale for denial that a medication or device is experimental by insurance companies where such medication or device has been approved by the FDA for one year or longer and has peer-reviewed evidence supporting its use in the manner in which it was prescribed.
Reference Committee F
Resolution 401F.22, Resolves 1 and 2, Representation of Bartow County Physicians in MAG
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG remove Bartow County as a part of the Rome Medical Society.
Adopted, Resolve 2, that MAG grant the Bartow County Medical Association a charter as a Component Medical Society pending approval of the bylaws by the MAG Board of Directors.
Officer 03.22, Treasurer
Filed Officer 03.22, the Treasurer’s Annual Report.
Officer 06.22, AMA Delegation
Accepted Officer 06.22, the AMA Delegation Annual Report.
Reference Committee on Constitution and Bylaws
Resolution 501CB.22, Resolves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Financial Conflicts of Interest Disclosure by Officers and Directors
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 1, that MAG will amend its bylaws to require all Officers and Directors to complete an annual disclosure of all conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business.
Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws provided the following amendment to the MAG Bylaws:
CHAPTER VI – Board of Directors … SECTION 7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
(a) All directors and alternate directors shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business.
Chapter VII – ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS … SECTION 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
(a) All officers shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 2, that MAG will publish this disclosure on its website for member-only access.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 3, that MAG will require in its bylaws that annual disclosure follow the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates.
(a) All directors and alternate directors shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Such disclosure shall comply with the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates.
(a) All officers shall complete an annual disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest prior to discussion and voting on items of business. Such disclosure shall comply with the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates.
Adopted as Amended, Resolve 4, that MAG will amend its bylaws to require that the conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting.
CHAPTER VI – Board of Directors … SECTION 7. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. … (b) The conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates shall outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting.
Chapter VII – ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS … SECTION 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. … (b) The conflict of interest policy established by the Board of Directors and affirmed by the House of Delegates shall outline the circumstances where an officer or director shall recuse themselves from discussion or voting.
DID NOT ADOPT, Resolve 5, calling for MAG to allow any member bound by the conflict of interest restrictions in its bylaws to request excusal from the obligation to recuse themselves in advance of a discussion or vote, with the excusal limited to a single identified event and arbitrated by the E.C. whose decision is final.
Resolution 502CB.22, Resolve 1, Medical Student Membership
Adopted, Resolve 1, that MAG bylaws be amended to allow students at international medical schools whose accreditation has been recognized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and who are currently receiving training and/or education in the state of Georgia to become MAG student members.
CHAPTER II – MEMBERSHIP … SECTION 9. STUDENT MEMBERS. Any person may become a Student Member of this Association upon proof that such person is a student in good standing at a medical school approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the Committee on Colleges, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association or a student at an international medical school whose accreditation has been recognized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and who are currently receiving training and/or education in the state of Georgia. Student Members may not vote nor hold office except that they may vote when serving as members of MAG committees on issues submitted to a vote of such committees, and when serving as a voting Delegate representing the Medical Student Section in the House of Delegates and when serving as a voting Director representing the Medical Student Section on the Board of Directors.
Special Report 12.22, Recommendation 1, Presidential Succession Line Task Force
DID NOT ADOPT, Recommendation 1, calling for the MAG Bylaws be updated to include a requirement that a candidate for President-Elect have previously served for at least three years on the MAG Executive Committee.