By David Welsh, MD
ISMA Delegate to the AMA; 
AMA Ambassador

This has been a tough year, dealing with COVID 19. All of us have had to re-imagine how we perform tasks and get things done. Advocacy efforts have had to be adjusted. The AMA National Advocacy Conference (NAC) has always been in person in Washington, D.C. It has traditionally been well attended, gets rave reviews and helps physicians connect with Congress and speak up on behalf of patients. In this year of COVID, advocacy is needed more than ever; but, just as we have adjusted how we take care of patients, NAC was adjusted to a virtual format.

How did the NAC go this year? It went extremely well. The speakers were exceptional, as usual. The AMA leadership performed well, whether Dr. Sue Bailey, president; Dr. Russ Kreidel, Board chair; or Dr. Gerald Harmon, president-elect. We “met” with members of the Senate and House from across the country. Indiana was especially proud that one of our own, Rep. Larry Buschon, MD, a Congress member from southern Indiana, spoke well about our issues. The instructions to participants about being an effective advocate were helpful and complete. The AMA advocacy team presented helpful, actionable instructions on how to effectively advocate. Their information was supplemented by advocacy expert and educator David Lusk, founder of Key Advocacy. The resources and information distributed were outstanding.

This year, the focus was on improved maternal health, continuing telehealth coverage, dealing with the Medicare sequester and reduced funding, more research for cannabis-related products and much more, including COVID-19 issues. Bechara Choucair, MD, the White House vaccine coordinator, was a featured speaker and gave the audience some information on plans for enhancing the vaccine rollout.

While a lot was covered, I certainly missed meeting with colleagues and my elected officials in person. The AMA Ambassador virtual mixer Tuesday evening helped, and the meeting prompted more outreach to colleagues. We really do have an ISMA and AMA family. The close relationships and support fostered by the AMA help in so many ways. If you are dealing with a challenge in your practice, being part of the ISMA and AMA helps with resources and ideas for solutions. These relationships made the virtual meeting work better.

While we did not get to roam the halls of Congress and meet members of Congress and their staffs, we were able to meet via Zoom calls. The ISMA leadership and members met with multiple officials each day. I was especially happy to meet with Sen. Mike Braun and Rep. Greg Pence, Rep. Trey Hollingsworth and Rep. Jackie Walorski. I was able to get to know Rep. Jim Banks and Rep. Jim Baird much better. We really are blessed with an exceptional congressional delegation!

In each meeting, there was a member of our ISMA delegation who knew and had worked with the elected officials and their staff in the past. This was key to connecting with senators and members of Congress. Each visit was at least 30 minutes or more, which was longer than we were afforded at previous NAC sessions. Our group was able to cover our main subjects and to discuss much more. We received positive responses to our points of view. Additional information was requested, and your ISMA has facilitated that request.

As a group, we also asked for more COVID 19 vaccines for Indiana. Each individual we met made it clear they appreciated our taking the time to meet and invited us to meet again and keep them informed about subjects that are important to us. I plan to take Senator Braun up on the invite to visit Jasper. They appreciated the efforts of Indiana physicians, especially this past year.

Your ISMA has made and continues to make extra efforts to connect with our elected officials in Washington and in Indiana. Remember, your elected officials work for you. While they and their staff know a lot, you are more knowledgeable about your patients and the challenges of taking care of them. You can be a resource to your elected official and help them make better, more informed decisions concerning health care.

The AMA NAC gives excellent information and training and helps improve advocacy efforts, but you don’t have to go to Washington to make a difference. You can start in your hometown. You can connect with local, state and federal officials. Let them know what you think. You can “adopt an elected official”, interact, inform and connect with them and, in doing so, you can help patients.

I am already looking forward to next year’s AMA NAC, in person. I invite each of you to join other physicians next year. From March 15 through March 19, I also invite you to join other Indiana physicians at Physician Advocacy Week at the Statehouse. Learn more about this virtual event >>