Evaluation of the Cost of Medical Education (I-06)

RESOLVED, that our AMA oppose tuition increases that are not reflective of an increase in the true cost of medical education; and be it further

RESOLVED, that our AMA direct the Council on Medical Education to determine the exact cost educating a medical student either through a new study or meta-analysis of current data, as well as any relationship of this cost to rising medical student tuition; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this resolution be forwarded immediately to the AMA House of Delegates.

I consider this to be one of my greatest achievements in organized medicine because I really learned a lot about how to tackle a difficult issue. The idea for this resolution came from a Round Table discussion in New York, led by our Student Trustee, discussing student debt. Many were frustrated that tuition continued to rise but they couldn't get a real answer as to why. Administration at several schools said the cost of medical education was rising, but even they didn't know where the money was going. Students agreed that they should have to pay more if the cost is going up. However, we wanted to at least see where the money was going and verify that costs were rising as quickly as we were being told.

The biggest problem with the resolution was the fiscal note. We didn't realize how much a study would cost and that the AMA may not be the best body to study this. However, we have a very savvy Governing Council right now in the AMA-MSS, and they came to the rescue. We sat down with several people on CME and LCME to figure out what we might be able to do. One idea currently being pursued is requiring schools to investigate and disclose cost of education data. This take the fiscal onus off the AMA and puts it on medical schools and would offer more transparency when determining tuition costs. Discussions with CME and LCME are ongoing, and the original resolution was referred for decision. A report based on this resolution has been submitted for consideration by the AMA-MSS at A-07.