CMA 133rd House of Delegates Sets Policy
on Pressing Issues for State’s Physicians
[Posted 03/18/04]

Resolutions to reform health care financing, encourage universal immunizations for children , and protect the doctor-patient relationship were among the resolutions passed by CMA’s House of Delegates at its annual meeting March 13 to 15 in Sacramento. The following are summaries of some of the resolutions that the House adopted as policy.

Health Care Financing Reform: The delegates adopted a health care financing reform policy (Report B-1-04) that supports mandates to assure universal health care coverage; encourages a health care benefit design that includes technology and medical advancements that are evidence-based and have proven value; and incorporates appropriate individual responsibility for health care costs. The delegates also adopted a recommendation that CMA make every effort to incorporate the following elements into any health care financing reforms: malpractice liability reform, medical and economic data collection and analysis, actuarially sound rates, portability of insurance coverage across jobs and throughout life, and medical education. The House also voted that a pluralistic delivery system—inclusive of fee-for-service, PPOs, POS, HMOs, etc.—must continue to exist in any CMA-supported proposal.

Fingernails and Infection Control: The House passed Resolution 114-04, which says that CMA shall support a statewide infection control policy that prohibits artificial fingernails or natural fingernails that extend more than ¼ inch beyond the end of the finger for health care workers who engage in direct hands-on patient care in ICUs, operating rooms, perioperative settings, inpatient or outpatient wound care, and other high-risk settings.

Ratings for Films with Tobacco Use: Continuing CMA’s 30-year campaign against tobacco use, the House passed Resolution 103-04, which calls on CMA to encourage the motion picture industry to apply an “R” rating to all new films depicting cigarette smoking and other tobacco use.

Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Emissions: The delegates passed Resolution 117-04, which calls on CMA to urge the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to expeditiously and without delay adopt and implement the strongest possible regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emission levels from motor vehicles under the Clean Cars Law (AB 1493).

Prescribing and Test Ordering by Naturopathic Practitioners: The delegates passed Resolution 607a-04, which says that CMA shall evaluate the authority of naturopathic doctors to write prescriptions and order tests under SB 907 and, if appropriate, support legislation to limit such activities to those justified by their training. The resolution also calls on CMA to evaluate the authority of naturopathic doctors to administer medications or any other controlled substances intravenously or by any method of injection.

Herbal Products and Drug Interactions: The delegates passed Resolution 107-04, which calls for labels on herbal and nutritional products to prominently list any known adverse interactions with prescription and nonprescription medications and warn that unknown interactions may occur.

Asthma Inhalers in School: The delegates passed Resolution 113-04, which says that CMA shall support legislative efforts to authorize the possession and self-administration of inhaled asthma medications in all public schools by children with asthma, provided there is written authorization from the child’s parent or guardian and a written authorization from the health care provider documenting that the child has the skills necessary to self-administer the medication.

Universal Immunizations: The delegates passed Resolution 108-04, which expresses CMA’s support for an adequately-funded universal immunization program for all children in the United States. The resolution also emphasized that insurers should be required to cover all childhood immunizations recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and American Academy of Pediatrics, without asking for the usual deductible.

Task Force on Childhood Obesity: The delegates passed Resolution 112-04, which calls on CMA to support the ongoing CMA Foundation efforts on childhood obesity so that qualified physicians and scientists representing various disciplines can collectively produce rational and cohesive strategies for assisting children and their families with developing healthy living habits that will result in long-term weight control.

The Doctor-Patient Relationship: The delegates passed Resolution 119-04, which calls on CMA to take a strong public stand against legislation banning late-term abortion and continue to educate the public and Congress about the strong need to protect the physician-patient relationship.

To view all the actions of the 2004 HOD, click here.