News & Events / MMA Adopts Policy Reaffirming Support of Science, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Public Health in Current Political Discourse
MMA Adopts Policy Reaffirming Support of Science, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Public Health in Current Political Discourse
The Maine Medical Association adopts policy reaffirming commitment to science, evidence-based medicine, and public health in current political discourse
The Resolution follows:
RESOLUTION, REAFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE; AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE; SUPPORT FOR HEALTH EQUITY; AND A COLLECTIVE APPROACH TO THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES TO A HEALTHY POPULATION FOR ALL SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS IN 2025
Presented to the Maine Medical Association Board of Directors
By
The Maine Medical Association Executive Committee and
Public Health Committee
March 5, 2025
WHEREAS, the Maine Medical Association (MMA) is a professional organization representing more than 4,000 physicians, residents, and medical students in Maine whose mission is to support Maine physicians, advance the quality of medicine in Maine, and promote the health of all Maine people;
WHEREAS, MMA represents physicians in all geographic locations in the State of Maine, in all medical specialties, and in all types of practice settings;
WHEREAS, MMA members have witnessed with alarm an increasing presence of misinformation and factual inaccuracy in public discourse and political debate in Maine and across the United States during the last few years;
WHEREAS, the influence of misinformation and factual inaccuracy, especially regarding scientific, public health, and health care treatment matters, has become substantially greater during the 2024 Primary and General Election campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels of our government;
WHEREAS, elected and appointed officials at the federal, state, and local levels of our government have an ethical and moral obligation to protect the health and welfare of the communities they serve;
WHEREAS, public health problems arising anywhere across the globe do not recognize political boundaries and can impact communities in Maine and the United States;
WHEREAS, the MMA recognizes that historic and ongoing structural inequities in the U.S. health care system have resulted the significant disparities in care and outcomes;
NOW THEREFORE, the Maine Medical Association Board of Directors states as follows.
BE IT RESOLVED: That the MMA restates and reaffirms its public policy advocacy in support of the scientific method and our collective societal accomplishments to advance public health and health care in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA calls upon our elected and appointed representatives in the Executive and Legislative Branches of our government at the federal, state, and local levels to carefully consider and heed the non-partisan, professional public health and health care advice of international and national experts in their policy decision-making;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will advocate for maintenance of current levels of eligibility in the Medicare, Medicaid (MaineCare), and Veterans Administration programs, and will continue to advocate for reimbursement rates and resources that are sufficient to cover the costs of providing medical services to beneficiaries of those programs;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will continue to advocate for collective action in our society for access to and insurance coverage for comprehensive health care services for all individuals in the United States;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will continue to advocate for appropriate reform of the health care system in our country in accordance with the principles outlined in the MMA’s Statement on Reform of the U.S. Health Care System adopted by the MMA Board of Directors on June 7, 2023 [LINK];
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will collaborate with other like-minded organizations to speak out against misinformation and factual inaccuracy in public policy decision-making about public health and health care;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will continue to support efforts that raise awareness of health disparities and promote equitable opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential for health, not just in Maine, but across the country and globally;and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the MMA will urge its members and advocacy partners to consider these resolutions in their individual choices about future policymakers in this country and across our global community.
VOTED BY THE MMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MARCH 5, 2025
ATTEST: Sarah Lepoff, MMA Board Secretary DATE: 03/11/25
