AMA Committed To Health Reform This Year

WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Statement attributable to: Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D. President, American Medical Association.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081209/AMALOGO )

“Make no mistake: Health reform that covers the uninsured is AMA’s top priority this year. Every American deserves affordable, high-quality health care coverage.

“Today’s New York Times story creates a false impression about the AMA’s position on a public plan option in health care reform legislation. The AMA opposes any public plan that forces physicians to participate, expands the fiscally-challenged Medicare program or pays Medicare rates, but the AMA is willing to consider other variations of a public plan that are currently under discussion in Congress. This includes a federally chartered co-op health plan or a level playing field option for all plans. The AMA is working to achieve meaningful health reform this year and is ready to stand behind legislation that includes coverage options that work for patients and physicians.”

Learn more about the AMA’s work to cover the uninsured and health reform at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/legislation-advocacy/current-topics-advocacy/health-system-reform.shtml

Follow AMA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmerMedicalAssn

About the American Medical Association

The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues. Working together, the AMA’s quarter of a million physician and medical student members are playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.

SOURCE American Medical Association