Blog and News

In the aftermath of the Obama presidential election, healthcare reform became an intensely debated political issue, and the American Medical Association (AMA) had a difficult time deciding their position on the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Obamacare).

The AMA's problems have deepened because they are not what they purport themselves to be-the spokesman for the community of physicians. How can they be when only approximately 10% of the practicing physicians in the US are members? In contrast to the 1960's when over 75% of doctors belonged to the AMA, their influence in the medical community has waned considerably, in part because they are out of touch with the views of practicing physicians. Obamacare is a perfect example.

The ACA will have a devastating impact on physicians and the AMA has failed to protect them, leaving physicians without an advocate. The AMA cannot serve 2 masters. They must choose who they represent. Perhaps it is time for the AMA to step aside and make way for another organization more interested in protecting the needs of doctors; one that is not conflicted. 

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D4PC has previously discussed how the American Medical Association (AMA) has subjugated the interests of its member-doctors (and the medical profession as a whole) in favor of protecting its government-granted CPT billing code monopoly. Dr. Daniel Palestrant writes about yet another way that the AMA is selling out doctors. This latest practice involves the collection and sale of data regarding doctors across the country. 

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Welcome to D4PC "Morning Rounds", your daily review of healthcare news and information from Washington, DC and around the nation. These briefings will keep you up to date on recent developments and our effort to replace the PPACA with patient-centered reforms that protect the doctor-patient relationship and preserve individual freedom of choice.  

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The AMA declares that its core mission is to “help doctors help patients.” But ObamaCare undermines that pursuit by making life harder for physicians and driving down the quality of care available to patients. 

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D4PC's Dr. Hal Scherz has written a new article for Georgia Health News detailing the specific reasons why most of the medical profession has lost faith in the American Medical Association (AMA) to represent their profession. 

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As Docs4PatientCare reported earlier this week, a new survey of physicians demonstrates wide dissatisfaction with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the overwhelming belief that the AMA no longer represents their views. 

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It is no secret that the AMA was perhaps the most significant supporter of the president's healthcare law and their endorsement was tremendously influential in garnering support from members of congress and the public.  However, over the past year, through the work of organizations like D4PC, the ugly truth has been revealed about the AMA, such as the embarrasing low percentage of physician membership and its self-serving role as a special interest lobby. Yet, despite hemorrhaging even more members over the past two years, the AMA continues to undermine American physicians and patients.  Dr. Scherz' article helps readers understand the many reasons why the AMA has lost the support of a majority of America's "practicing" physicians.  

 

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Dr. Mark Neerhof, an executive board member of Docs4PatientCare, has a new article at Townhall.com that details how the American Medical Association's (AMA) endorsement of ObamaCare represents a conflict of interest for the AMA.

He writes: "The AMA was used by the Obama administration to garner public support for the law. The public’s perception is that all doctors belong to the AMA, and thereby, that the AMA speaks for all doctors.

Thus, if the AMA supports ObamaCare, it must be good. In fact, at the time of passage of ObamaCare, only 17% of physicians in the United States belonged to the AMA."

Dr. Neerhof then asks: "Why then did the AMA support ObamaCare? The answer is that the federal government created a monopoly for the AMA, giving it exclusive rights to publish medical billing codes. Every physician and hospital in the country must use these billing codes. This monopoly accounts for an annual income for the AMA of between 70 and 100 million dollars. That exceeds the income from membership fees. To whom is the AMA’s allegiance -- practicing physicians or Washington politicians?

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