By Stacie Wenk, DO
ISMA President

I, along with other ISMA leaders, attended the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., Feb.11-13. We heard from several national lawmakers and leaders, including Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, who shared his thoughts regarding simplifying the burdens physicians experience daily and opportunities to streamline patient care. You can read his speech online.

AMA leadership discussed priorities and provided input on talking to legislators. I was joined by President-elect Lisa Hatcher, MD; Past President John P. McGoff, MD; AMA Delegate Vidya Kora, MD; AMA Delegate Bill Mohr, MD; AMA Alternate Delegate Heidi Dunniway, MD; Speaker Bob Darroca, MD; Treasurer Pardeep Kumar, MD; Board Chair Elizabeth Struble, MD; and EC/Trustee Shalin Arnett, DO. We met with several of our members of Congress on behalf of our members and discussed prior authorization burdens and dangers, unanticipated medical bills (surprise billing), prescription costs and other topics. We met with Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, Rep. Larry Bucshon, Rep. Greg Pence, Rep. Jackie Walorski, Rep. Peter Visclosky and an aide to Rep. Andre Carson, as well as Sen. Todd Young and Sen. Mike Braun.

Our conversations with our legislators were well-received and very productive. We plan on following up our visit in D.C. with meetings with our legislators locally to continue conversations regarding health care needs for physicians and our patients.