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RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

The House of Delegates held sessions throughout the 83rd Annual Convention including an Open Meeting on Monday, July 31, 1978 where several government officials addressed the need for NMA involvement in federal health programs. Guest speakers included Congressman Louis Stokes (D-Ohio), member of the House Appropriations and Judiciary Committees, Fitzhugh Mullan, Director of the National Health Service Corps, Robert A. Derzon, former Administrator of Health Care Financing Administration and Dr. George I. Lythcott, Administrator, Health Services Administration.

During the business sessions, the House of Delegates passed the following resolutions.

1. Nutrition--The NMA adopt a leadership position in increasing national awareness and understanding of the importance of proper nutritional requirements by examining existing nutrition programs for effectiveness of service and advocate improvement where needed.

2. Federal Financing of Abortions--The NMA unalterably oppose any legislation which denies and negates the rights of the poor, deprived and underprivileged women access to safe and scientific health care practices.

3. Confidentiality of PSRO Records--NMA endorses the concept that Congress specifically exempt PSRO records from disclosure through the FOIA and preserve the confidentiality of these records and other peer review activities and maintain the existence of PSRO organizations.

4. Cost of Medical Education--Public and private support for students with extremely limited personal financial resources should be expanded with emphasis on providing direct, low-interest loans to low-income medical students.

5. Cost Containment--The Board of Trustees of the NMA set up an Ad Hoc Committee to review the report of the National Cost Commission and other Cost Containment activities from the NMA's perspective.

6. National Health Service Corps Program to Upgrade Care in Underserved Areas--The NMA endorses the program of the NHSC to establish and/or upgrade health care practices in critical health manpower shortage areas. 

7. Use of Physician's Assistants--The NMA endorse a statement to be disseminated to licensing boards or commissions, expressing the Association's concern regarding indiscriminate use of Physician's Assistants particularly in State and Federal programs which provide health care to the poor, and recommend to the States the establishment of laws specifically limiting the activities of Physician's Assistants to those performed under the direct control and supervision of a licensed physician.

8. Confidentiality of Personal Psychiatric Records--The NMA supports the right of people to complete confidentiality of their personal psychiatric records unless the government can show eighter probable cause as to why they need the records, or a compelling State interest in the record. 

9. Laetrile Amygdalin--The NMA disavows the product laetrile as acceptable medical practice pending satisfactory results of studies and further discourages its usage on the part of the Association's membership and physicians in this country.

10. 12% Black and Minority Representation in the Medical Students--The NMA endorses the concept that efforts be made to increase the number of Black and minority physicians and medical students to at least 12% of the total.

11. DHEW and IRS Review of Medical School Hiring Practices--The NMA will call upon the Secretary of HEW and the Commissioner of the IRS to access the minority faculty hiring achievements of medical schools and in those instances where little effort or visible accomplishments can be demonstrated withhold DHEW grant and contracts monies from such medical schools and in the case of private medical schools challenge their tax exemption.

12. NMA-SNMA - The NMA strongly reaffirm and solidify its special cooperation and supportive relationship 
with the SNMA at all levels - Local, Regional and National.

13. Government To Reaffirm Election Promises...NMA To Support Fight Against Racism - The NMA will call upon Congress and the President of the United States to reaffirm their election promises to Blacks and other minorities through definitive earmarking of more federal dollars in support of low income housing, public education and support of predominantly Black colleges.

14. DHEW Review of Programs Funded for Increasing Minority Enrollment and Retention - The NMA request the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to obtain from each medical school which has received such funds a description of how the funds have been specifically used and statistics reflecting its success (or failure) in increasing minority student enrollment and retention in medical schools.

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