Statement Attributable to:
Patrice A. Harris M.D., M.A.
President, American Medical Association
“The guidance from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on adult elective surgery is a vital step is allocating resources during the pandemic. As hospitals and physician practices plan for anticipated surges of patients needing care for COVID-19 infections, health professionals must use their expertise to develop allocation policies that are fair and safeguard the welfare of patients. The CMS guidance offers needed flexibility to physicians by allowing them to consider the imperative of resource conservation, especially personal protective equipment.
“The nation’s physicians know challenging days are coming. We are preparing for it and are grateful that the federal government understands that physicians need to have flexibility when responding to this threat."
The AMA Code of Medical Ethics offers detailed advice to physicians on how to approach the allocation of limited health care resources. Among other things, it covers which criteria to consider, setting care priorities and the importance of transparency.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
