12.18.23 OMA Board Book

most healthcare providers continue to avoid treating obesity, many insurers refuse payment for treatment, and most people living with obesity do not have coverage for pharmacotherapy. We have experienced significant success working with the American Medical Association (AMA) in advancing our advocacy efforts. The AMA is fighting for the recognition of obesity as a disease and for improving insurance coverage for treatment. They have passed policies on obesity education, obesity as a disease, non-discrimination, and people-first language. They are currently advocating for support of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) and for coverage of pharmacotherapy. Many of these efforts are being spearheaded by the OMA, both through resolutions (which have been written and passed by the OMA’s Delegate, Dr. Ethan Lazarus), and through an Obesity Caucus, which was formed by the OMA that the OMA hosts at every AMA Meeting. While the positive movement above exists, the OMA’s seat at the AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) is at risk due to the manner in which the OMA’s Bylaws are currently written. Our BOT believes it is important that we maintain our status as a member of the AMA for the reasons enumerated above. To ensure our continued AMA HOD representation, the OMA’s BOT recommends segmenting our membership into voting and non-voting categories. All physicians will be required to be in the voting category; however, other member types (NP / PA / etc.) will be allowed to choose between voting and non-voting categories, such that a majority of our voting membership, (as required by the AMA), remain physician members. The OMA remains committed to all of its members, including physicians, NPs, PAs, and all other membership types. In recognition of our outstanding non-physician colleagues, we will concurrently be proposing to increase the number of representatives on our BOT with one additional seat designated to be filled by a member who is not a physician, which will take the total of non-physician seats from one to two. Thank you for all that you do for our patients and the OMA, and we look forward to your continued collaboration! Message #2: Email Message (12/27/2023) In early January of 2024, you will be receiving a request for your vote. Your OMA Board of Trustees (BOT) is recommending the following changes to its membership structure: 1) Membership will now include both voting and non-voting categories. a. All Physicians will be voting members, and physicians will retain the majority of the voting membership.

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