CAFP’s 2012 Congress of Delegates had a shot in the arm with the presence of more than 15 medical students and residents interested in the Academy’s governance process and its media and legislative training programs – the enthusiasm level just naturally rose 20 degrees!  Keynote speaker Mark Blatt, MD, family physician and Worldwide Medical Director of Intel’s Enterprise Solution Sales, led off the meeting by encouraging family physicians to be in the forefront of change in the health care system through team-based care and technology solutions.

Dr. Blatt was followed first by a reactor panel composed of Bo Greaves, MD and Jay Lee, MD, then by a town hall session with updates on four key areas of concern and activity by the Academy:  implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by Carla Kakutani, MD; transformation of medical practice to the Patient Centered Medical Home by Larry Shore, MD and Adriana Padilla, MD; Accountable Care Organizations by Jerry Penso, MD; and an update on Health Information Technology from CAFP’s own Leah Newkirk.  The popular “There Oughta Be a Law” session was also held again, with the winning “law” from medical student Karla Gonzalez.

The 2012 Congress of Delegates adopted the following resolutions:

RESOLUTION      A-01-12

Endorse the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (USMEC)

RESOLVED, that the California Academy of Family Physicians endorses the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (USMEC) and will promote USMCE with an announcement and link on www.familydocs.org; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the California Academy of Family Physicians request that the AAFP join the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in endorsing the US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (USMEC) and similarly promote USMCE with an announcement and link on www.aafp.org.

RESOLUTION      A-02-12

End Age Restriction on Emergency Contraception (EC) Access

RESOLVED:   That the California Academy of Family Physicians will advocate for emergency contraception to be available over-the-counter to all women of reproductive age, and be it further

RESOLVED:  That the California Academy of Family Physicians will instruct its delegates to present this resolution calling for emergency contraception to be available over-the-counter to all women of reproductive age to the AAFP Congress of Delegates.

RESOLUTION      A-03-12 (Amended)

Transition CAFP Congress of Delegates to All Member Advocacy Meeting

RESOLVED:  That the California Academy of Family Physicians’ Congress of Delegates’ name be changed to the All Member Advocacy Meeting (AM/AM) – open to all members in addition to Delegates and Alternates and held in Sacramento to enhance CAFP’s advocacy efforts – to activate, give voice to and empower our members as advocates for themselves and their patients and to present ideas and problems to the CAFP leadership and Board of Directors; and be it further

RESOLVED:    That the California Academy of Family Physicians undertake an outreach and education effort with members to advise them about the policymaking opportunities and member assistance services CAFP offers, so those members can take advantage of the avenue that best meets their needs and provides immediate assistance in resolving problems encountered in practices; and be it further

RESOLVED:  That the California Academy of Family Physicians All Member Advocacy Meeting, if approved, offer the opportunity for the membership to submit resolutions and advocate for them before the Board of Directors, which will have responsibility for vetting and reporting back on those resolutions to the All Member Advocacy Meeting at the next meeting, and that members be encouraged to bring issues and problems to the Board throughout the year, not only at the All Member Advocacy Meeting, to ensure prompt resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED:  That Delegates and Alternates currently elected and/or selected to serve by their respective county chapters at the CAFP Congress of Delegates continue to be charged with the responsibility of electing CAFP’s officers and other officials at an All Member Advocacy Meeting, if adopted, as provided by the CAFP Bylaws and, through the All Member Advocacy Meeting, if adopted, may at any time by majority vote, submit referendums to the members of the Academy on questions affecting the policy or recommendations of the Academy, including actions taken by the Board of Directors during the prior year; and, be it further

RESOLVED:  That the Bylaws of the California Academy of Family Physicians shall be rewritten to reflect the name change from Congress of Delegates to All Member Advocacy Meeting and specific sections of the Bylaws amended to place responsibility for policy and disposition of resolutions with the Board of Directors while allowing Delegates to the All Member Advocacy Meeting to elect the officers of the CAFP, approve dues increases and submit referendums to the membership, as is currently the case; these bylaws changes will be publicized to the membership and submitted to the 2013 Congress of Delegates for consideration.

EMERGENCY RESOLUTION A-05-12

Increase in Active and Supporting Membership Dues

RESOLVED: That the CAFP Congress of Delegates authorize an increase of $25 for CAFP Active and Supporting members beginning January 1, 2013 such that the dues rate will be $290; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the CAFP will closely monitor the economic impact of the chapter dues rate increase on Active and Supporting membership and the organization, with frequent reports to the Board on recruitment and retention rates.

Finally, CAFP’s new officers were elected as follows: 

President-elect: Mark Dressner, MD

Speaker: Del Morris, MD

Vice Speaker: Jay Lee, MD

AAFP Delegate: Carla Kakutani, MD

AAFP Alternate Delegate: Eric Ramos, MD

Nominating Committee Members: Asma Jafri, MD and Kelly Jones, MD

Rural Director 2012-14: Veronica Jordan, MD

New Physician Director 2012-15: Lisa Ward, MD

Secretary-Treasurer: Lee Ralph, MD 

CAFP officers and new directors will be sworn in at the 2012 Annual Scientific Assembly in Indian Wells, when Carol Havens, MD steps down as President and Steve Green, MD assumes that position.  We thank outgoing Immediate Past President Jack Chou, MD.  Congratulations!