At the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), our advocacy work is grounded in a simple principle: ensuring that the needs of patients with serious illness, and the clinicians who care for them, are represented where decisions are made.
As an active member of the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, AAHPM has a vital seat at the table in shaping national policy, we elevate the unique perspectives of hospice and palliative medicine and advocate directly on your behalf. At the recently concluded AMA House of Delegates meeting, AAHPM co-sponsored and supported important policies that will impact hospice and palliative medicine patients.
Medical Frailty Determinations for Medicaid Work Requirements
AAHPM was a co-sponsor of an AMA resolution which addresses the implementation of Medicaid work requirements, which will take effect on January 1, 2027. As passed, this resolution directs the AMA to ensure that medical frailty exemptions are clinically appropriate and include the full range of serious and complex conditions.
Advocacy efforts around medical frailty determinations will greatly impact patients with serious illness and affect their ability to access care through Medicaid.
OMB Proposed Rule: Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance
AAHPM also signed onto a late resolution in response to the recently proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, which would greatly change how the federal government regulates all federal grants.
The AMA Resolution requires the AMA to support the scientific peer review process, academic journal independence and the value of merit-based scientific investment and calls on the AMA to submit comments to the OMB.
Protecting the Prescriptive Authority of Plenary Licensed Physicians
The Pain and Palliative Medicine Specialty Section Council, chaired by AAHPM, supported newly adopted policy to protect the prescriptive authority of plenary licensed physicians, including licensing to prescribe controlled medications.
This new policy requires the AMA to work with various pharmacy organizations to find ways to improve communications between physicians and pharmacists as well as work with pharmacies subject to the national opioid litigation settlement for the purpose of collecting data on refusals to dispense medications and the reasons for such refusals. A report of the AMA’s findings will be presented at its next Annual Meeting in June 2027, with the results informing the evolution of national opioid policy and improving clinical care.
For more details on these policies, members can read this post on Connect.
Why this matters:
- AAHPM is actively shaping policy conversations that impact your patients
- Our presence within the AMA ensures the voice of hospice and palliative medicine is heard
- By aligning with partners across the House of Delegates, we amplify our collective impact
Your membership matters, too. AAHPM’s ability to engage in the AMA House of Delegates, and to advocate effectively depends on the strength of our membership. Maintaining active membership in both AAHPM and the AMA ensures that your voice is represented, amplified, and prioritized in national policy discussions.
Together, AAHPM and the AMA serve as powerful platforms for advancing the field, protecting patients, and supporting clinicians like you.