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of tobacco products from age 18 to 21; advocating for evidence-based solutions to the public health issues associated with lead; the debate regarding the screening and treatment of Lyme
disease; marijuana access; physician- assisted suicide; increased access to
the school setting; ongoing legislative and regulatory action for opiates, with support for increased access to Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) and in-prison treatment, but caution for an addiction treatment fund predicated on an opiate fee likely to be borne by patients; electronic prescribing of all prescriptions in Delaware by 2021; and the work of
the Primary Care Collaborative. Dr. Henderson also mentioned activities surrounding continued education in the
and meetings convened in Delaware with representatives from the American Board of Medical Specialties and the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. The
RESOLUTIONS
A late resolution, “Prior Authorization Reform,” was presented to the Council. Late resolutions require three-fourths considered business of the Council. The vote passed with one in opposition, which placed the resolution on the agenda. The Council also voted to MSD members present who were not voting Council members.
Resolution 01, “MSD Support of Physician-Assisted Suicide/Medical Aid in Dying” heard much testimony from both sides of the issue. The resolve called for MSD to rescind
its current position of opposition
to physician-assisted suicide and instead adopt a position of engaged neutrality toward medical aid in dying.
Discussion of the issue lasted over an hour. An amendment to the resolution was adopted, which added that the resolve would pass if greater than 50% of MSD’s membership approved by referendum. However, upon voting on the resolve with the amendment, the resolution did not pass.
Resolution 02, “Prior Authorization Reform” requested that the American Medical Association (AMA) explore emerging technologies to automate
the prior authorization process for medical services and evaluate their for the reduction in the overall volume of prior authorization requirements
for timely patient access to medically necessary care and reduction in practice administrative burdens. The resolution passed without discussion. MSD will submit the resolution for consideration by the AMA House of Delegates at its meeting to be held in June 2019.
BYLAWS
The MSD Bylaws Committee reviewed a recommendation from the Executive Board and proposed the following to be considered by the Council for addition in the Bylaws. Recommended Bylaws changes require a two-thirds vote of
the Council present and voting to adopt changes. Those suggested changes were adopted as presented and are outlined Underlines indicate additions, while
a strikethrough indicates a deletion from the Bylaws. The MSD Bylaws adopted changes.
ARTICLE XI – COMMITTEES
OF THE SOCIETY
Section 18 – Government Affairs Committee
The Government Affairs Committee will be composed of not less than seven
members to include the chair of the committee, the Society’s President, President-Elect, Vice President, the Executive Director, a representative from the AMA Delegation, and at least one representative from a specialty society that has a particularly active governmental affairs program. The members of the Government Affairs Committee shall be charged with building relationships with legislators, providing a regular and consistent presence at Legislative Hall when the Legislature is in session, and testifying on health care issues on behalf of the Medical Society of Delaware. The committee will also be responsible to develop and draft legislation for the Society, oversee the legislative and regulatory efforts of the Society, and shall take direction from the Society’s Council and Executive Board as necessary. The chair of the committee shall be a regular member of the Executive Board and the Delaware Medical Political Action Committee Board of Directors.
The Government Affairs Committee shall also oversee the Primary Care Subcommittee. The Primary Care Subcommittee will be considered a subcommittee of the Government Affairs Committee. It will be composed of not less than seven members to include the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, an additional member of the Government Affairs Committee who shall serve as Chair
of the Primary Care Subcommittee,
a representative from the Third Party Payer Committee, a representative from the Medical Network Management Services of Delaware, LLC (MedNet), and representatives from the three
main primary care specialties: Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, and General Pediatrics. The Primary Care Subcommittee shall be charged with making recommendations to the
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