CMA HOD Update: CMA's 2023 House of Delegates Takes Place Oct. 21-22 in Los Angeles

Dear Colleagues:

The 152nd Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will convene October 21-22, 2023, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. As you plan your participation in the meeting, your Speakers request that you carefully review the following information.

Major Issues to Be Discussed

The House of Delegates establishes broad policy on current major issues that have been determined by the Committee of Delegation Chairs (CDC), Speakers and the Board to be the most important issues affecting members, the Association and the practice of medicine. The CDC met in May to develop a proposal identifying those topics for 2023.

2023 Major Issues Topics: 

• Consumer Health Technology/Artificial Intelligence (Actionable Report and Presentation)
• Office of Health Care Affordability (Actionable Report and Presentation)
• Climate Change (Actionable Report and Presentation)

Major Issues topics are now available for comment. If you have any input on the direction of the topic, please offer your testimony by Monday, July 17. The testimony offered during this time period will help guide the Councils in the development of their reports.

Matters proffered for HOD considerations should be policy-setting in nature and not specific advocacy strategies. Please review CMA's Policy Library for existing CMA policies (must be logged in). 

HOD Schedule

New delegates and alternates should be on the lookout for our New Delegate Orientation, which will be held virtually in advance of the House in the week preceding the meeting. Registration will be open on Friday afternoon, Oct. 20, for any attendee who arrives early. We highly suggest checking in at Registration in advance of the inevitable rush on Saturday morning. 

Sessions of this year’s House of Delegates are tentatively scheduled as follows:

• Saturday, Oct. 21: 8 to 11:30 a.m. (Session 1)
• Saturday, Oct. 21: 1 to 5 p.m. (Session 2)
• Sunday, Oct. 22: 8 to 11:30 a.m. (Session 3)
• Sunday, Oct. 22: 1 to 3:30 p.m. (Session 4)

In addition to conducting various elections, hearing from leaders in organized medicine, honoring members with awards and other business, the weekend will consist of education and debate on major issues, spread across the four general sessions of the House. We hope to adjourn no later than 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. A draft schedule of the weekend’s major events and activities will soon be posted on the HOD website and will be continuously updated until we get to House. Please check with your delegation coordinator for information about your own delegation’s caucus meetings and meal functions.

Hotel Accommodations

CMA has secured a block of guest rooms reserved at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE at a special rate. Reservations may be made by clicking here. Delegates are strongly advised to book early, since the room block is limited and the discounted rate may no longer be offered after the block has filled. We will recirculate information after receipt of updated rosters in July, but current members can sign up now.

For housing questions, contact Marriott Hotel Reservations at (213) 765-8600 or toll free at (877) 622-3056. Please note that all housing questions are handled through the JW Marriott, not through CMA staff.

Childcare

As in the past, CMA plans to arrange for childcare accommodations. More information will be posted as it becomes available. Be on the lookout for a future email for additional details and a link to sign up. You can help us adequately plan for your childcare needs by communicating the number of children and ages of the children in your party to Navdeep Dhaliwal.

Meeting Registration and Rosters

All delegates and alternate delegates will be pre-registered for the meeting based on delegation rosters submitted to CMA. Delegates and alternates should be duly elected or appointed per the method or manner prescribed to each delegation in the CMA Bylaws. If you have questions about if you are recorded as a delegate or alternate for 2023, please contact Navdeep Dhaliwal.

Meeting Materials and Wi-Fi

House of Delegates agenda materials will be posted to the House of Delegates website. Paper copies will not be provided of any materials. All reports must be presented for consideration at least 30 days before the opening of the House. Ancillary materials will be posted in September. This will afford delegations an opportunity to caucus prior to the opening of the House, if they wish to do so. Wi-Fi will be provided in all meeting rooms, including caucus meeting rooms, for on-site access to the materials. 

We look forward to a productive 152nd Annual Session – and we hope you also take time to enjoy your stay in Los Angeles. We also wish to encourage any and all of you to contact us, through your delegation chairs or directly, with questions, concerns or recommendations regarding this year’s House!

Sincerely,

Jack Chou, M.D.
Speaker of the House

Lawrence C. Cheung, M.D.
Vice-Speaker of the House