AMA-MSS Action Item (MSSAI) Digest (members only)
The Governing Council of the AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) wants to ensure that every AMA Medical Student Section (MSS) member’s voice is heard. If the AMA has existing policy on an issue, and you want to request the AMA to advocate or take other action relating to that issue, please fill out this form. You can also suggest actions relating to AMA or MSS governance, processes, or operations for our Governing Council to consider.
The MSS Governing Council generally reviews MSS Action Items within 30 days and generally emails with updates within 45 days (after we review, we need a couple weeks to forward questions to staff and receive responses). The MSS Governing Council also balances multiple priorities when determining how to act or request action.
Please note that passage of a resolution, existing AMA policies, and previous AMA actions do not guarantee future advocacy or other actions; they may increase the likelihood for that action. Even when explicit policy is present, the relevant AMA leadership and/or staff always makes the ultimate decision on whether or not to take a certain action or engage on an issue. However, if an MSSAI is unsuccessful, that does not mean the issue is more suitable for a resolution, as this would not address other concerns the AMA considers when taking action.
Please still submit your Action Item for consideration! We want to be transparent about our process and the AMA’s process for considering requests.
We recommend typing your responses on a separate document and copy-pasting into this form to avoid accidentally losing your progress. If you have difficulty answering any of the questions below, please email mss@ama-assn.org for guidance.
National Advocacy on Federal Legislation
The AMA generally considers Congressional bills that have bipartisan support and/or have achieved major momentum or public awareness.
Decisions regarding AMA positions or actions on bills may depend on the specific provisions in the bill, timeliness, alignment with current AMA advocacy priorities (such as the AMA Recovery Plan), and other political considerations. Check the AMA Federal and State Correspondence Finder to see AMA advocacy letters and testimony regarding legislation the AMA has supported/opposed in the current and previous Congresses.
National Advocacy on Federal Executive Branch Actions
Check the AMA Federal and State Correspondence Finder
Learn more about the regulatory process
Executive Order
National Advocacy on Federal Litigation
Check the AMA Litigation Center Case Summary Finder.
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals (federal appellate level)
State Advocacy on State Legislation, Regulation, or Litigation
The AMA typically does not engage in state advocacy unless a state medical society requests AMA assistance, which means that the state society must have policy on the issue and/or prioritize it enough to advocate on it and bring it to the AMA. Check the AMA’s State Advocacy webpage and the AMA Federal and State Correspondence Finder.
Medical Education Regulation
AMA’s involvement in medical education is primarily mediated through our collaboration with AAMC, LCME, AOA, AACOM, NBME, NBOME, NRMP, ACGME, FSMB, ABMS, ACCME, and other national and state medical education regulatory and licensure bodies, so requests for action should generally involve one or more of those entities. The AMA’s capacity to influence local action at individual institutions or programs is limited.
Please be aware that action within the next 12 weeks requires that we move up our review timeline. Advocacy Staff has limited bandwidth and generally needs at least 6 weeks’ notice to review a request and possibly draft comments. Shorter deadlines are more difficult to meet. For example, is a comment period closing on a proposed federal regulation? Is a Congressional bill about to have a hearing, committee vote, or Congressional vote soon? Will a lawsuit be heard in court soon? Is someone else dependent on AMA or MSS action occurring within this timeframe?
*Please note this portion will be shaerd publicly with the MSS and documented and archived for future MSS members.
Please avoid providing general background on the broader issue; focus your explanation to the targeted action or specific intricacies of your request. For example, if you were requesting action on the lawsuits on Medicare drug price negotiation, we do not need evidence for how high drug prices affect patients, but we do need specifics on the lawsuits in question, their progress in the courts, involvement of other parties, and opportunities for AMA action. Do not feel the need to write a lengthy or formally structured piece, as this is just for MSS Governing Council review.
Here is the AMA PolicyFinder. If you are requesting action by the AMA (not just the MSS), please list the most relevant AMA policies supporting your request. Please include the policy number, title, URL, and excerpts from the policy supporting your ask. If you cannot find policy, then it will be difficult to request action.
If you are requesting action by the AMA (not just the MSS), we can better justify action if we know what the AMA has previously done on the issue. While these are not exhaustive of all AMA actions, please use the AMA Implementation Reports, Federal and State Correspondence Finder, the Litigation Center Case Summary Finder, the Council Reports Finder, the AMA website, and general search engines to find the AMA’s work in your area of interest.