2023 Advocacy Agenda

As the professional association for some 7,000 physicians of all specialties in Alabama, the
Medical Association of the State of Alabama exists to serve, lead, and unite physicians in
promoting the highest quality of healthcare for the people of Alabama through advocacy,
information, and education

General Policies Supported

The Medical Association supports the physician-led health team model and maintaining the highest standards for medical care delivery across all specialties of medicine.  The Association  supports prohibiting deceptive healthcare advertising and requiring health professionals identify their license to patients.

The Association supports physician autonomy in patient care and medical practice decisions, fair reimbursement for services and reducing the volume of administrative tasks required by insurers which increase annual health spending and negatively impact patient health.     

Further, the Association supports increasing health insurance options for Alabamians, including expanding Medicaid.  The Association supports increasing access to quality mental health care and continued state funding for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the Infant Mortality Review Committee.  Recognizing the long-term effects of social determinants of health on individuals, families and ultimately communities, the Association supports comprehensive solutions to addressing these challenges, with emphasis on pipeline programs, tax credits and loan forgiveness proposals benefitting rural and underserved areas.

Finally, by ensuring medical liability environment stability and pursuing further civil justice reforms, the Association believes Alabama can continue to attract highly-qualified physicians.

Specific Policies Supported

For 2023 , the Association specifically supports:

• Streamlining the prior authorization process for physicians and patients
• Initiatives to grow Alabama’s physician workforce
• Increasing access to physician-led care in rural and underserved communities
• The ability of medical practices to set patient practice policies
• Increasing physician representation on state healthcare boards, task forces and committees

General Policies Opposed

The Medical Association opposes any scope of practice expansion for non-physicians that would fracture the physician-led health team model, lower quality of care and/or increase costs.  The Association also opposes any interference with the physician-patient relationship and attempts to reduce a physician’s autonomy in patient care or medical practice decisions.

The Association opposes legislation or other initiatives that could increase lawsuit opportunities against physicians, including the establishment of statutory standards of care or any statutory dictums for medical care delivery.  The Association also opposes any state-level increase of requirements for Maintenance of Certification.  Finally, the Medical Association opposes tax increases disproportionately affecting physicians.

Specific Policies Opposed

For 2023, the Association specifically opposes:

• New lawsuit opportunities against physician employers and medical practices over employment policies
• Efforts to reduce and/or politicize physician involvement in health regulatory affairs
• Expanding Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) access for law enforcement
• Statutory requirements for mandatory Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) checks