Yesterday the AMA endorsed the House legislation that would in effect establish government medicine.
Why did they do it? They sold out for a few percentage points in the SGR.
Do you think a miniscule raise –that can be revoked at any time — is worth selling out for government control of medicine and your profession?
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK – post comments today!!!! Please type your comment in below under “Leave a Reply.”
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I am not a MD, however, I have provided care for a handicapped family member for
nearly a decade and one half. So my fear in regard to the current healthcare bill
is obvious.
My question is this: Who wrote the current 1000 plus page healthcare bill? I believe
that knowing the author(s) is step one in understanding the motives behind changing
the best healthcare available in the world into a situation where rationed care and
bureaucratic boards usurping the advice of medical doctors will likely become the norm.
Wonder why AMA and many other “official” medical-related organizations have abandoned us by endorsing socialized medicine? The reason is that the people(medical colleagues) who are attracted to official positions in the organizations have a Bureaucratic mindset. Thus, likewise is why our elected government officials behave thus. It would do no good to fire them, as they would be replaced by more of the same. As demonstrated by much of the correspondence here, the most effective way to combat their mischief is to resign from their organizations and leave them stranded.
MOST PRUDENT MEDICAL DOCTORS SHOULD DUMP THERE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE AMA–KNOW KNOWN AS THE SOCIALIST AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION…SO CALL IT THE OBAMA SAMA….THEY HAVE SOLD OUT DOCTORS, PEOPLE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC…I HOPE ALL DOCTORS RESIGN FROM ANY AFFILITAION WITH THE CURRENT AMA–NO MEMBERS–NO ASSOCIATION….THE DAY THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENS WITH MY MEDICAL CARE AND MY RELEATIONSHIP WITH MYSLELF AND MY DOCTOR IS THE DAY THAT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SHOULD FEAR HIS OR HER LIFE. AND I AM NOT ALONE..TRUST ME ON THAT..
As an FP and past president of the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design, we have found local solutions for our primary care practices. It’s all about the patient.
By adopting “direct practices”, we bypass all third parties and work for our patients. My fee for care (retainer) model has restored the patient-physician relationship in my practice. And, it’s not for the rich.
The key: patient-financed medical homes. We have been in an abusive relationship with third parties for too long.
Chris Ewin, MD
Fort Worth, Texas
http://www.simpd.org
I was an alt delegate for AMA for ten years – incredibly frustrating. I resigned that position a few years back and resigned AMA last year. I was so weary of reading the AMA newspaper and seeing it conflict in opinion and tone with my thoughts. I thought by resigning, I would stop that – but it keeps coming along with JAMA – it won’t die. I am not sure exactly who they represent anymore.
I am a registered nurse and I really have a question, every doc that I have come in contact with ( and there are many) has denied being a member of the AMA, so who really belongs??I have heard that only 40% of physicians belong so that should tell us something.. I have resigned from the ANA which only gave me a magazine and that was easy to give up . Like everything in else in this world this is about money and power and I believe that the docs that believe in this system are making a large mistake but it really is about them not the patient…
After over 17 years as an AMA member, I couldn’t take the hypocrisy anymore. I have tried to rationalize that I should try to be part of the solution by my continued membership. Clearly being a member is not the solution, but rather the problem. I resoundingly resigned from their ranks last week 8/09. They clearly do not represent my interests or the interests of my colleagues, which begs the question: ‘If they don’t represent me, how can they appropriately represent the needs of my patient’s?’ They can’t and don’t. I invite all my colleagues to join the AAPS.
I feel that the 40% of doctors who remain in the AMA are too busy to become informed about what the AMA is doing — inviting socialized medicine. I speak for the six M.D.’s in my family.
Why are you so pissed at the AMA? we aleady have government medicine with medicare and medicaid, but this needs reform as well. There are many government programs that we take advantage of everyday (the police, the fire department, the post office). I work for a community mental health center subsidized by the county to help treat mentally ill who have no insurance. Does that make me a socialist?
I have been a Family Physician for 10 years. I am a cofounder and past president of the Society For Innovative Medical Practice Design. For the past 9 years I have worked for my patients in a direct practice model. Primary care physicians have compromised the care of our patients by accepting third party discounted rates. The only way we can restore the integrity of the physician patient relationship is to return to working for our patients in a direct fianancial relationship. The AMA has betrayed thier physician members and our patients by supporting a government health care option. There are better ways to achieve our nations health care goals. My resignation from the AMA is in the mail.
I’ve over 50 years of health care delivery experience..a very wide range.
I wrote a non fiction book, ROLL THE DICE, PICK A DOC AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, Booksurge.com (March 2009). I address the AMA, health care reform, licensing and credentialling of providers, and a host of related issues in my book
I opted out of the AMA in the mid or late 80’s when then Director, Dr. Sammons, was exposed for giving interest free loans to cronies, and other illegal/unethical acts. He was making $500,000, plus perks, per year. The AMA would not give me a list of salaries for it’s administrative staff (and my County and State Societies were not interested in pursuing it). At the time I had been a lifelong member of the AMA.
The AMA had 75-80 % membership when I joined in the late 50’s. Today it is under 30%. They do not represent the majority of US physicians.
Dr. Cosgrove, Cleveland Clinic, gave an excellent presentation on health care issues on the NPR Evening News Hour (8/12/09). The interviewer asked the 64-dollar question: “Has the White House been in contact with you?” His reply in essence: “We’ve given them a tour of our operation and discussed what we believe are the essential priorities. No, they have not gotten back to us.”
Cherry picking what fits personal, special and entrepreneurial interests will not improve health care delivery and will not be in the country’s/patient’s best intersts.
Marching on Washington idea is strictly sound bite theatrics. The meaningful pressure comes from one-on-one with your elected representatives. Doctors have done a poor job in that respect, and I recognize the sacrifice needed to take time from busy schedules. However, if we don’t do it, less qualified and less committed will do it for you.
I just sent the following comment to the AMA
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I am an old-timer, having graduated from med school in 1964 when the AMA still represented the average practicing doctor. I have stubbornly held on through the years to the concept of physician collegiality. A physician friend of mine who is a political liberal always denigrated the AMA, but in recent years has become a strong supporter. I think I’m beginning to see the light.
I would like to know the actual physician membership in the AMA
Doctors should dump the AMA. A doctor and patient relationship should supercede any other agency or bureacracy. The phrase “Do no harm” means nothing anymore if a doctor cannot use his/her best judgement in treatment and work with the patient’s unique situation.
The current insurance situation is in need of some changes, but that can be addressed without pressing the reset button on health care.
One issue at a time, one bill at a time, we can solve the problems. We won’t get perfection ever and if that is the goal then we are on the path toward the worst kind of tyranny at the hands of tyrants who impose things on us and are not bound by conscience due to the fact they think what they are doing is good for us.
Google the article by Dale Steinriech, Ph.D about the history of the AMA. Interesting.
I am the last practicing physician in a family that going back one gereration produced 7 physicians, 6 of which were in practice simultaneously, one career military and 5 specialists.
My rather simple suggestion for fixing the current mess that Congress has made of our profession would be twofold:
1. Means test medicare.
2. Repeal the HMO act of 1992 and turn the management of medical costs bact to those who understand statistics, the actuaries. Then allow persons of all ages to purchase the needed coverage just as was the case prior to 1992.
These two steps would take the “economic engineering” out of medicine which is largely responsible for the unmanageability that we all face, stop the need for cost shifting, etc…
What we have now is socialized “managed profit” controlled by insurance executives. At this point continuing the 1970’s fee schedules is untanable. As an Otolaryngologist with a subspeciality fellowship and boards in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, I am soon going to limit my practice to purely elective surgery as many thousands of primary care physicians are threatening to quit entirely.
James J. LaNasa, Jr. M.D. FACS
I am not a doctor, but I have worked in the medical profession for about 30 years. Why would a reputable organization like AMA would even want their name used in the same context of THE OBAMACARE.
My suggestion, let AMA know we don’t need them, and cut them loose.
Down with OBAMACARE AND AMA.
The AMA has never been a proponent of patient or physician concerns. It is a an entity unto itself that has sought to promote it’s own interests. It has nothing to do with representation and protection of the patient or physician.
THIS THIRD WORLD COUNTRY HEALTH CARE BILL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HUGE STEP TOWARDS A SOCIALIZED SOCIETY, THIS IS A SOCIETY I DO NOT WANT AND WILL FIGHT TO MY DEATH FOR FREEDOM..THIS IS A BACK DOOR ATTEMPT TO LEGALIZE AND HAND OUT TAX PAYER MONEY TO ILLEGALS, TO TRIAL LAWYERS AND SPECIAL INTEREST LIBERAL COMPANIES..YOU DO NOT NEED 2100 PAGES TO REFORM HEALTH CARE–I WOULD SAY A BILL EVERYONE COULD READ SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 100 PAGES, AND THAT MAY BE TOO MUCH. ILLEGALS SHOULD NOT RECIEVE ANY SORT OF HEALTH CARE, ILLEGAL MEANS ILLEGAL AND THESE PEOPLE NEED TO GO HOME AND SPONGE OFF THERE OWN GOVERNMENTS. HEALTH CARE AND THIS SO-CALLED CAP AND TRADE–(TAX AND FLEECE) ARE STEPS TOWARDS TAKING OUR FREEDOM AWAY–RUINING MEDICAL CARE, THE BEST IN THE WORLD, DESTROY THE FANTASTIC DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PEOPLE THAT HELP THE SICK. YOU WILL LOSE DOCTORS, NEW DOCTORS WILL BE SUB STANDART AND WE WILL HAVE MASSIVE DEBT AND A HUGE LOSS OF FREEDOM OVER THIS ATTEMPT TO RUN OVER THE CONSTITUTION…NEXT NOVEMBER–YOU MUST THROW EVERY CORRUPT CONGRESSIONAL PIG OUT OF OFFICE–EITHER PARTY…THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND A BILL THAT IS WORTHLESS FOR THE MAJORITY OF LEGAL AMERCAN CITIZENS…
AS FOR THE AMA–THERY ARE NOTHING DIFFERNET THAT THE SEIU, ACORN. MOST POMINENT DOCTORS ARE NOT EVEN MEMBERS, AND IF THEY ARE THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE AMA WHAT SO EVER..THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER BEEN UNDER ATTACK LIKE THIS FROM ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS..THESE PEOPLE NEED TO REMOVED FROM OFFICE IMMEDIATELY…VOTE THESE POMPUS ARROGANT CORRUPT CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE NEXST NOVEMBER. THIS IS TOTAL INSANITY AT BEST..OBAMA LIED AND RAN FOR PRESIDENT ON DECPETION AND UN-AMERCIAN VALUES..THIS GUY IS NO BETTER THAN THE PM OF IRAN–HIS HERO HUGO CHAVEZ AND THE CASTRO GANG..VOTE THESE PIGS OUT AND KEEP POUNDING THERE EMAILS–PHONES AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS…NEWS ORGANIZATIONS–BESIDES FOX AND TALK RADIO–THE NETWORKS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN OBAMA PROPAGANDA OUTLETS–VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT NAZI GERMANY DID–WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN HUGO CHAVEZ’S TERRITORY–IRAN–THE EX SOVIET UNION..OBAMA IS A TRAITOR AND HE HATES THIS COUNTRY..HE NEEDS TO GO FOLKS…HE AND ALL OF HIS CZARS, HIS CABNET OF SOCIALISTS AND BACKERS LIKE G.E. AND THE REAL SELFISH PIG GEORGE SORO’S…