Posted on 11/05/2009 12:21:08 PM PST by BobMcCartyWrites
It came as no surprise to learn this morning that the American Medical Association announced its support for concurrent passage of two health care reform bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sadly, the once-respected organization of physicians now joins the ranks of the misguided AARP (See “Despite Early Denials, AARP Endorsing ObamaCare”).
Forty-eight years ago, the group opposed socialized medicine and used Ronald Reagan as a spokesperson to share that view with Americans.
In a news release today, they issued the following statements about legislation many fear will place government in control of the nation’s health care system — one-seventh of the nation’s economy:
“The time to make health system reform a reality is now,” said J. James Rohack, AMA president. “These two bills were introduced together, and they need to be passed together. Both are essential to achieving meaningful health system reform this year.”
“On balance, H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, is consistent with our principles of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of physician practice and universal access. It will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans to empower patient and physician decision making; institute meaningful insurance market reforms; make substantial investments in quality; institute prevention and wellness initiatives; provide incentives to states that adopt certificate of merit and/or early offer liability reforms, and reduce administrative burdens.”
“H.R. 3962 is not the perfect bill, and we will continue to advocate for changes, but it goes a long way toward expanding access to high-quality affordable health coverage for all Americans, and it would make the system better for patients and physicians,” Dr. Rohack said. “This is not the last step but the next step toward health system reform. We will remain actively engaged with patients, physicians, Congress and the administration to ensure that the final bill results in marked improvements to our health system.”
What AMA officials — and President Barack Obama — conveniently omit from today’s discussion of health care is the fact that doctors from all 50 states rallied against government-run health care two months ago, that other physician groups adamantly oppose ObamaCare and that some 45 percent of physicians say they will quit the profession if ObamaCare becomes law, according to an Investors Business Daily report Sept. 15.
I droped AARP awhile ago. I hope many more do because Health Care isn’t the only liberal clap trap they support.
Neither AMA nor AARP are “misguided.” They are doctrinaire socialist organizations that know exactly what they are doing.
Got the phone call from Pelosi assuring once this passes they will reneg on the cut in Medicare reimbursement rates.
The AMA is a communist organization that is first and foremost about socialist state power and only incidentally involved in medicine. No doctor that I know (and I know quite a few) is a member.
Is this news to anybody? Thought this was news months ago!
AARP jumped on this bandwagon in order to sell supplementary insurance policies. Follow the money. The AMA wants to legally cash in on the 60 billion dollar per year Medicare fraud that will expand exponentially with “Health Care Reform”. Follow the money (YOUR MONEY).
It’s my understanding that AARP has lost 1000 members a day since July. Anyone know about this?
I cannot verify the numbers, but the AMA has lost a substantial percentage of its members over its political activities over the last year.
I think 27% of Doctors are members. My son and his wife are NOT.
bump
When I read that I figured this was a negotiating tool to get the doctors to buy into the bill.
The Dems would go to them and say they'd take that section out in return for doctor support.
Of course, I could be wrong.
AARP has lost up to about 60,000 members.
Yes, it was reported by CBS in July and by USA Today. They said about 60,000 but the figures are hard to get because it is said they lose about 300,000 some months and gain more. Many are going to American Seniors Association instead.
As to why the aarp and the ama support the bill, they make money, of course. The AMA gets gets some kind of payment on forms, it is something they have gotten for years in one of the congressional bills years ago, and aarp is in competition with humana. Again, I don’t know the ins and outs, but it is probably something to do with medicare advantage vs medigap.
The AMA is now down to a membership of 15% of physicians. I think it’s fair to say that the AMA does not represent a force in the medical community at all. It SOUNDS good to have the AMA in support, but it means nothing if the scant membership is mentioned along with the announcemnet of “support.”
American Medical Association...now known as
Socialist Medical Association
Now the volume's been turned up, trumpeted across the fruited plains at deafening decibel levels? Shazam.
Sounds about par, even a *tad* desperate.
It's the ol' repeat the Lie until people think it's the truth. An old fav by totalitarians, communists & now America's Democrat Party (enabled by the fascist mediots) since forever.
Keep ye eyes on the ball. LOL
I have heard the 15% figure too. I am both retired and a M.D. I resigned from the AARP over 10 years ago because of their Left Politics. I quit the AMA about 4 years ago for the same reason.
The membership numbers are misleading. The “hard-core” membership is probably lower than published numbers because of their recruitment practices. Membership in the AMA used to almost be “required” back when I started. There were strong pressures to join, including blacklisting by local Medical Societies. Like the AARP, it was easy to “join” during training. Fees were quite low or even waived for “student” or “Resident” memberships. Once you became a practicing physician, the yearly “dues” went up dramatically! The AARP contacts you on your 55th birthday offering memberships for you AND your spouse for $5 for 10 years! This was a good deal because you could recoup the
“dues” on any number of AARP negotiated deals. Once you hit 65, the renewal price went up.
Both of these Organizations act like a Roach Motel... easy to get in but hard to get out! It was frighteningly similar to Union practices...
The news is that both organizations announced their formal support today.
The AARP is selling insurance and this is buying protection from Obama to keep selling their insurance and muscle out the competition.
The AMA has the proprietary medican coding system and Obamacare will force everyone to use it and pay the AMA who will pay Obama.
This is nothing but high end bribery.
I read within the past few weeks that only 17% of doctors are members of AMA. So they are not as powerful as they would like to be, but the public perception is that doctors are or should be members.
Hit them where it hurts..in their wallet.
I just called the # given by one of the posters and told them I would NEVER join their group again. I said I had ignored their liberal leanings in the past but could no longer do so when they support legislation that is being done behind closed doors and was going to be rammed down our throats no matter how we seniors feel about it.
When the poor operator said that she would let AARP know and they were “sorry” some of us felt that way I corrected her by saying that AARP didn’t care one bit what I or any the of protesters over this summer felt. But I was sure that they would care when they lost members. And I assured her that I was going to persuade any senior I knew not to rejoin. I”v already convinced two of my friends not to rejoin and will continue to persuade others.
AARP is a liberal advocacy senior group and conservatives need to know that and make a concerted effort not to join them or support them in any way financially.
That’s the only thing AARP is really interested in..my money so they have the clout to shape policy in DC.
Take it away from them!
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