A Message from AMA President Dr. Rohack on Health Reform Bill in U.S. House of Representatives

The American Medical Association offers its support of the U.S. House bill on health reform and reiterates its commitment to effective, comprehensive health-care reform.

The House bill includes provisions key to effective, comprehensive health reform, including:

- Coverage to all Americans through health insurance market reforms
- A choice of plans through a health insurance exchange
- An end to coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions
- Fundamental Medicare reform, including repeal of the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula
- Additional funding for primary care services, without reductions on specialty care
- Individual responsibility for health insurance, including premium assistance to those who need it
- Prevention and wellness initiatives to help keep Americans healthy
- Initiatives to address physician workforce concerns

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[mamamia0709]

Medicaid is also funded federally. Medicare has reduced payments to the physicians every three years for the last two decades. The private insurances were better payors and more timely. The private insurers pay at a rate that is fair and the problem started with HMO's. Again, another attempt at controlling our healthcare. That hasn't worked out so well either. Doctors didn't want to be told how to administer to their patients. And rightly so.

Man is not free unless government is limited.

[macman2345]

Well, let's give the AMA some credit for going out on the limb to support Obama and democrats. That is a huge cultural shift for them and as the comments below note, not without some big risks. Actually, the real problem is that trying to put money into a flawed system is a waste. Let's start over and do it right. Properly financed, single payer, not for profit, national health insurance now.

[illhavemine]

Nice comments from the president of the AMA. Wait and see his tune change when the public option gets slipped in and Obama's wish for a one payment system becomes reality. The 25 members of Obama's healthcare committee than get to choose how much the doctors get reimbursed. Then the age factor comes into play, i.e., at one point does a seniors age become prohibited for extending treatment. It's all coming down on us.

[nonamadoc]

There is no need to introduce a govt-backed insurance plan into our health care system. It will simply out-compete the private insurance plans until it is the only choice left. MDs are heavily under-reimbursed by Medicare and this new govt plan will do the same. It will further reduce physician salaries, making the profession highly unattractive to talented college graduates. No promising college grad with a brain will agree to enter 8+ yrs of intense education at age 22 for a penurious salary.

[jlongbine]

Yay health care reform!!! I'm so glad the AMA is behind this bill, it really shows how ignorant some people are. If the drs of this country are behind this bill, then we should be also!!! It's not socialist to want to take care of your countrymen in a time of need!! I wonder why 99% of the people who complain about this bill are people who have or are able to get health insurance? I can tell you why... because they just don't give a shit about their fellow man anymore. What a shame.......

[Sean L]

I'd really like to see a poll of American physicians and RN's regarding what type of reforms they'd like to see- single payer? HR 3200? tort reform & HSA's? I'm sure they don't like all the money poured down the drain every year to insurance company stock holders.

[arizonared2000]

Since your in training to be a Physician, I want to hear what you have to say after your in the profession for a few years if we keep the status quo. I've been in high dollar treatment healthcare finance for 24 years fighting these insurance companies. Good luck with your career.

[MaggieMagnolia1]

What AMA and Obama is saying is that we can have a health care system that covers all Americans that isn't the same as Canada or England - an American solution.

[MaggieMagnolia1]

Glad AMA is supporting reform in a thoughtful way - and not just partisan knee jerk

[Smartassawhip]

Most bankruptcies in the US are due to overwhelming medical bills and most of them are people who had insurance. With the cost of insurance one would think this should not be the case.

[Smartassawhip]

The USA has the "BEST SPECIALISTS" but our Health Care System stinks and is ranked as the Low 37th on a World Scale !! It's like saying "THE USA WON THE MOST GOLD MEDALS IN THE OLYMPICS ... SO THE ENTIRE AMERICAN POPULATION IS MADE OF TOP ATHLETES! I believe we can do better.

[texasense]

our health care system is not as bad as people say . One problem is people dont value their health. They rather spend their money on expensive cell phone, cable TV , vacations, booze, cigarretes, hair and makeup, cars, dating........than one their health expenses. Even the uninsured have nice cell phones, cable tv, wear nice clothes, etc.