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Health care reform

American Medical Association Supports Health System Reform Bills

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced its support for the passage of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, two key health system reform bills currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. The organization's president, J. James Rohack, emphasized the importance of concurrent passage of the bills, stating that they "need to be passed together" in order to achieve meaningful health system reform. Dr. Rohack praised H.R. 3962 for its emphasis on pluralism, freedom of choice, and universal access, while acknowledging that the bill is not perfect and will require continued advocacy to address its shortcomings.

The AMA is particularly concerned with the impending cuts to Medicare physician payments, which are scheduled to be slashed by 21 percent in less than 60 days. The organization has called on Congress to pass the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961) to permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers, and military families.

The AMA has emphasized the need for a comprehensive and long-term solution to the Medicare payment problem, rather than short-term patches that only serve to exacerbate the issue. The organization has described a permanent solution to the flawed Medicare physician payment formula as an "essential element of comprehensive reform."

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced its support for H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, two key health system reform bills currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  • The AMA's president, J. James Rohack, emphasized the importance of concurrent passage of the bills, stating that they "need to be passed together" in order to achieve meaningful health system reform.
  • H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, is praised for its focus on pluralism, freedom of choice, and universal access, but not perfect and will require continued advocacy to address its shortcomings.
  • The AMA is particularly concerned with the impending cuts to Medicare physician payments, which are scheduled to be slashed by 21 percent in less than 60 days.
  • The organization has called on Congress to pass the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961) to permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers, and military families.
  • The AMA sees a permanent solution to the flawed Medicare physician payment formula as an "essential element of comprehensive reform."

Statistics:

  • 90% of people aged 50 and older are concerned about the current Medicare physician payment formula threatening their access to care (Source: AARP poll).
  • 21% cut to Medicare physician payments scheduled to occur in less than 60 days (Source: AMA statement).
  • The AMA has a quarter of a million physician and medical student members (Source: AMA website).

Sources:

  • American Medical Association (AMA) statement.
  • AARP poll.
  • AMA website.
  • Managed Care Weekly Digest editors (via NewsRx.com).

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