Why I Will be Joining the AMA this Year
AGS News caught up with AGS Board Secretary Cheryl Phillips, MD to get her take on why she plans to join the AMA this year.

I have long made a conscious decision to NOT join the AMA, believing it neither represented me nor primary care, nor seemed to be part of the solution for improving chronic care delivery to seniors. While I have not moved entirely away from that viewpoint, I do better understand that AGS must continue to be present at the table as we push for payment reform and changes to the current procedure-driven world of reimbursement. To lose our AGS voice within the AMA would silence an important component of our public policy strategy. We ARE for a strong workforce in senior healthcare, for payment models that support care coordination and integration, and for the inclusion of important services, such as geriatric assessments, that are often overlooked in our present reimbursement world. However, if we are never present as the advocates of our nation's seniors and the healthcare professionals that struggle to improve their care, we cannot assume that others will carry our message. Frankly, while other primary care professional organizations are challenging their own members to join the AMA for the same reason - to keep their voices heard - these groups cannot be left to speak for AGS, our members and the seniors we serve.

The AMA is not our only vehicle. Through the work of the Public Policy Committee and advocacy activities of the AGS staff we are looking to address solutions on many fronts. Our strategic highways define for us a number of priorities and potential partnerships that will help us leverage needed changes. The important efforts of several of our AGS leaders within the AMA and the RUC are vital to this work. We need to be present. We need to be vocal and clear. And we need to continue to push for change. For this reason I have decided to set aside my list of reasons why not to join the AMA and focus on why I do need to join the AMA to be part of a push for change. I value the American Geriatrics Society and our voice more than I have reasons to continue to stay away from the AMA.