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Docs' Group Opposes Public Health Insurance

Powerful AMA pushes against Obama, Dem proposals

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 11, 2009 6:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – Just as Republicans and Democrats head for a showdown on health care reform, the American Medical Association is telling Congress that it will oppose a government-sponsored insurance plan—a key, if the most controversial, piece of plans put forward by Dems with support from the White House. The AMA wants health care "provided by private markets, as they are currently." As the New York Times reports, the opposition of the powerful physicians' organization presents reform advocates with a major hurdle.

Obama campaigned on a "public health insurance option" alongside private care, and yesterday Nancy Pelosi reiterated that "a bill will not come out of the House without a public option." But the AMA thinks a public choice will drive private insurers out of the market, leading to an explosion in public costs. The group needs to tread carefully, however; if they push too hard, they might alienate Democrats who are currently supporting their goal of increasing Medicare fees.

[Images (5)]

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Sens. Max Baucus and Charles Grassley talk with reporters after a closed-door committee meeting on an overhaul of the health care system, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The American Medical Association, which counts 250,000 members, will oppose plans for a public insurance option. (©ernstl)

Barack Obama, accompanied by J. James Rohack of the American Medical Association, speaks about health care reform, Monday, May 11, 2009, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Barack Obama speaks about health care reform, Monday, May 11, 2009, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 6, 2009, before a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on health care reform. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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We will be engaged in discussions in a constructive way. But we absolutely oppose government control of health care decisions or mandatory physician participation in any insurance plan. - Nancy Nielsen, president of the AMA

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 22 comments

AdaptAndOvercome

Jun 15, 2009 9:54 AM CDT

You are way of course newrmandan. $1500 in the 80's was not poor. And insurance companies in the 80's covered well. In this day and age they don't. So, you and your private school sheltered life have left you with a scewed view of what is "reality". And so, since you feel that you shouldn't have to help those less fortunate, you must also call yourself a "christian" hypocrit. Profitable drug companies like the one Donald Rumsfeld owns large stock in (creating the new Super Flu antivirus drug) and those greedy bastards are the ones that are keeping America hooked on drugs. Ex. my husband was recently told that he had High Blood Pressure and needs "medication". They sent him home with a monitor cuff (not free) and he has to monitor his blood pressure regularly. Looking at the book I found that the rates in America are different for those that live in Canada, Europe and Mexico. Normal US: 120/80 or less; Everyone else: 130/85. That's a big difference to pharmecutical companies profits- this way they call you border line and hook you like a fish for the rest of your life. Broaden your horizons, there's a big world out there--reality bites.

AdaptAndOvercome

Jun 15, 2009 9:31 AM CDT

Thank you. We had our insurance with Blue Cross-Blue Shield and we had a good policy that covered just about everything (2007) now (2009) they cover squat. We have to spend 5000. out of pocket before they cover anything. They get 8160.00 a year from us, but cover nothing until we spend 5000.00 first. THAT'S NOT THE AMERICAN WAY. That's just plain greed. I'm still fighting coverage on a bill from 2007 because the old policy is fighting the new policy to see who covers it. What a joke. So we pay BCBC to Lobby the cost of treatment and then we get a bill showing how much the insurance company thinks we should pay as appose to what the doctors office is billing. This just forces the doctors and such to over charge so that they can settle for what the insurance companies think they should get, because heaven forbid they actually charge what they should, then the insurance companies would dig into their pockets as well as ours. We need REAL INSURANCE lilke we used to have, not lobbyists. Washington already has plenty of those.

Derni

Jun 12, 2009 4:36 AM CDT

Of course the AMA wants private not public-if the Gov't gets in the market and competes with them then prices will go down a bit-cost controls will take place-lets get real-teh Doctors are the ones that monitor their onw-you trust that-Tghe AMA monitors charges against the AMA- now they fear the loss of income and of course you know-they wealk in your room at the hospital-look around-say good morning and bill you 150 for a comsult fee!

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Docs' Group Opposes Public Health Insurance