But some doctors have distanced themselves from the AMA’s statements. Doctors For America (DFA) — grassroots organization of doctors in all fifty states — issued a statement and hosted a conference call in support of a robust public option. Unlike the AMA, which has been steadily loosing power and currently represents “maybe 20% of physicians in this country,” DFA is “a grassroots organization” putting forth the views of “thousands of physicians” rather than “a small group of organizers.” Read More at the Wonk Room
Great article laying out three theories about the reasons behind the AMA about face today. Pretty long, so just a few snips here - be sure to read it all.
First, the background...
An article appearing in this morning’s NY Times by health politics uber-scribe Robert Pear declared “Doctors’ Group Opposes Public Insurance Plan.” It went on to describe the objections of the American Medical Association (AMA) to the public health insurance option, the centerpiece of the health care plans being pushed by the relevant committees in Congress, in no uncertain terms. But by the early afternoon, the AMA was releasing a “clarifying statement” along the lines of “Oh, of course we’d be OK with certain types of public plans, silly!” So what the hell happened? The gossip... Therefore, when the AMA seemed to step up to oppose a critical element of the President’s health care plan, everyone was ready to pounce – and pummel them.
- Here’s Media Matter suggesting a curious confluence between the AMA and private insurance’s lobbying efforts.
- Here’s Igor Volsky on Think Progress pointing out, “But the AMA, which has a long history of opposing the enactment of Medicare and other health reform legislation, does not speak for all doctors.” (Igor’s right, by the way. The AMA represents maybe 20% of physicians in this country).
- Here’s Jon Cohn pointing out the inconsistencies of their argument.
- Here’s Matt Holt on The Health Care Blog saying, “It’s a pity that as a policy wonk I can’t take them seriously.”
- Here’s Merrill Goozer summarizing, “When push came to shove, the doctors stood with the companies that absorb an inordinate amount of their time filling out forms.”
- And finally, the coup de grace, Maggie Mahar’s killer post, “The AMA Would Make Health Care Unaffordable to Many Americans.”
Now, Drum Roll please.... That’s right, the AMA convention begins this Saturday in Chicago. On the agenda includes the usual annual business of the organization, which, judging by their agenda, will doubtlessly include a number of votes on what policies to support or not support on health care reform. I don’t know how your annual conventions go, but if I’m attending one, I generally don’t like it when the organization published a position in the freakin’ New York Times before I even get a chance to vote on it. To say the timing of the article suggests the leadership is nor respecting the opinions of the members is an understatement.
All of this sets up a fascinating moment on Monday when President Obama addresses the AMA Convention. It was already highly anticipated – we know Obama’s new stump speech on health care specifically includes numerous mentions of the public plan – and now has been dialed up to eleven. I am still laughing at that one. Read More at ePluribus Media - who cross posted with the permission of Tim Foley from Change.org
The AMA is not just a bunch of doctors, but among other things an extremely lucrative lobbying organization that has given more than $12 million in campaign contributions to federal candidates since 1998. And since 1998, according to the nonpartisan OpenSecrets.org, some 64 percent of the AMA's donations to federal candidates have been to Republicans -- although 2008, in which the AMA gave 56 percent of its contributions to Democrats, was a notable exception. Since 1998, almost four-fifths of the AMA's donation to Senate candidates have been to Republicans (including 64 percent in 2008). They have been a bit more equitable on the House side More from the sources at FiveThirtyEightThe AMA is dying. Mostly made up of richer, older doctors working as specialists. It no longer represents the majority of American physicians- only about 1/3 of doctors; 90% of doctors over the age of 70; less than 30% of doctors under 50.
I will make two stories easier for you to find:
Dr. Chris McCoy: Dear AMA: I Quit!
Dr. McCoy is Policy Chair for the National Physicians Alliance
and
I'm Out of here: A physician's goodbye to the AMA
Bet there are more out there - I didn't even have to search to find these two and there are mentions of more in the comments of each.
We have not forgotten Operation Coffee Cup either.
Operation Coffee Cup was a campaign conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) during the late 1950s and early 1960s in opposition to the Democrats' plans to extend Social Security to include health insurance for the elderly, later known as Medicare. As part of the plan, doctors' wives would organize coffee meetings in an attempt to convince acquaintances to write letters to Congress opposing the program. The operation received support from Ronald Reagan, who in 1961 produced the LP record Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine for the AMA, outlining arguments against what he called "socialized medicine". This record would be played at the coffee meetings. Seeing as how people in the Medicare are indicating that they like Medicare - that they have fewer problems obtaining medical care, less financial hardship due to medical bills, and higher overall satisfaction with their coverage than those with private insurance, you should be hanging your head in shame. If you are not on our side - the side of patients - then just go away and sit in a corner and be quiet.
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