The Council of New England State Medical Societies (CNESMS) and the New England Delegation to the American Medical Association held their Fall meeting last Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the offices of the Massachusetts Medical Society in Waltham, MA. Representing the Maine Medical Association at the meeting were AMA Delegate Richard A. Evans, M.D. and Deputy EVP & General Counsel Andrew MacLean. 

The primary business of the CNESMS meeting is the presentation of the six state reports from the President of each New England state medical society, followed by questions and discussion. Dr. Evans presented the Maine report on behalf of MMA President Robert J. Schlager, M.D. who was traveling and could not attend. As usual, the state reports reflected issues common to all the states, including the opioid drug use disorder problem, the political landscape in each state, and operational challenges being faced by each state society.

The agenda for the meeting of the New England Delegation (NED) to the AMA is focused on preparation for the next meeting of the AMA House of Delegates, the interim meeting scheduled for early November in National Harbor, MD. It includes review and discussion of proposed resolutions from states to the AMA, presentation of reports from various AMA Councils and Task Forces, and discussion of races for various AMA offices. At this meeting, three proposed resolutions were on the agenda.  

1. Creation of an AMA Election Reform Committee (CT)
2. Shade Structures in Public and Private Planning and Zoning Matters (CT)
3. Due Diligence for Physicians and Practices joining an ACO with based models (upside and downside risk) (MA)

 At the beginning of the NED meeting, Maine's Richard A. Evans, M.D. completed his term as Chair if the Delegation and turned the position over to Vice Chair Peter Hollman, M.D. of Rhode Island. Dr. Hollman and Mr. MacLean each took a few minutes to recognize Dr. Evans for his service.