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Resolutions Submitted by WCMS to 2022 MSMS House of Delegates
Title: MSMS Efforts to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduced by: James C. Mitchiner, MD, for the Washtenaw County Medical Society
Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic is now entering its third year, with over 2.3 million cases in Michigan and 34,000 COVID-related deaths reported to date; and
Whereas, efforts to reduce the spread of COVID disease by government, industry, academic institutions, health systems, public health departments and school districts are ongoing and well-publicized; and
Whereas, multiple studies have proven the value of COVID vaccinations to protect the public in general, and at-risk populations in particular, from hospitalizations and mortality related to COVID; and
Whereas, multiple medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among others, have issued public statements supporting mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers;1,2 and
Whereas, there are multiple reports of irresponsible physicians disseminating misinformation and disinformation through public speeches and social media, about the alleged dangers of vaccinations and the ineffectiveness of masking, and touting so-called “therapies” against COVID, in the absence of peer- reviewed scientific data to support their opinions;3 and
Whereas, MSMS’s efforts to combat COVID to date have been lukewarm at best, with no known town halls, press conferences, public service announcements or published opinions promoting mandatory healthcare worker vaccinations or castigating physicians who promote unscientific recommendations; therefore,
be it further
RESOLVED, that MSMS takes a more assertive position in favor of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (with legitimate exceptions), using all available public mediums to do so; and
RESOLVED, that MSMS supports the reporting to the Michigan Board of Medicine of any Michigan physician who publicly spreads false and/or misleading information, against well-established scientific evidence, about COVID vaccinations, masking or ineffective treatments.
References:
Morse S (editor). AMA urges Supreme Court to uphold vaccination mandates. Healthcare Finance
(January 3, 2022). https://www.healthcarefinance- news.com/news/ama-urges-supreme-court-uphold- vaccination-mandates.
2) American College of Physicians, et al. Joint statement in support of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for all workers in health and longterm care. Joint Statement in Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Workers in Health and Long-Term Care (acponline.org)
3) Rubin R. When physicians spread unscientific information about COVID-19. JAMA. Published online February 16, 2022. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.1083
Title: Medicare-for-All
Introduced by: James C. Mitchiner, MD, MPH, for the Washtenaw County Medical Society
Whereas, approximately 29 million people remain uninsured despite the Affordable Care Act, with an additional 44 million under-insured1,2; and
Whereas, lack of health insurance causes citizens to forego care, to receive care in expensive and inappropriate settings, or to receive care only at an advanced stage of disease; and
Whereas, Medicare-for-All is an alternative financing mechanism for national health insurance that does not supplant the private practice of medicine, and preserves existing doctor-patient relationships; and
Whereas, Medicare-for-All is subject to myths and misconceptions, including the false belief that Medicare- for-All is “socialized medicine” and the false belief that physicians will be paid at the current Medicare fee schedule rate; and
Whereas, Medicare is a single-payer model that receives high patient satisfaction ratings, yet has much lower administrative costs3; and
Whereas, Medicare-for-All has advantages to medical practices including simplicity in billing and administration; and
Whereas, Medicare-for-All can make American businesses more competitive by eliminating corporate responsibility for financing employee health care; and
Whereas, Medicare-for-All provides the opportunity to improve medical care according to themes of the 2006 MSMS Future of Medicine report, including “Universal Coverage,” “Prevention and Wellness,” and “Partnering with Patients;” therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that MSMS creates a Healthcare Reform Task Force charged with thoughtful and
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Washtenaw County Medical Society BULLETIN SPRING 2022