Comments on: Can the American Medical Association still be an influential voice in health reform? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Should doctors go on strike? | ZDNet Healthcare | ZDNet.com http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-105186 Should doctors go on strike? | ZDNet Healthcare | ZDNet.com Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:59:40 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-105186 [...] I talk with face is that their professional goals and the industry’s economic incentives are out of alignment. Specialists make too much, internists too little, and the payment process is too complex, the [...] [...] I talk with face is that their professional goals and the industry’s economic incentives are out of alignment. Specialists make too much, internists too little, and the payment process is too complex, the [...]

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnson http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-100433 Dr. Mary Johnson Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:33:21 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-100433 I'm gonna try this again (in the interest of pulling back that "veil"), because I can see no reason why my second comment yesterday would be moderated out. Just call me a dissenting voice. Suchita, you're in medical school. It's fine to be a cheerleader for "solidarity". But gIve it a few years and several knife blades in the back, and you might have a better appreciation of the peculiar type of physician advocacy practiced by the AMA - "representation" that has disenchanted so many physicians. It's a big PR problem for the AMA right now. Physicians like myself have decided to "vote" by not paying dues to an organization that we feel sold the profession out long ago. You could say the selling out was incremental and slowly progressive. P.S. If you want to be "inclusive" and not overtly politicize your positions, you probably should not be throwing around the word, "progressive". I’m gonna try this again (in the interest of pulling back that “veil”), because I can see no reason why my second comment yesterday would be moderated out.

Just call me a dissenting voice.

Suchita, you’re in medical school. It’s fine to be a cheerleader for “solidarity”. But gIve it a few years and several knife blades in the back, and you might have a better appreciation of the peculiar type of physician advocacy practiced by the AMA – “representation” that has disenchanted so many physicians. It’s a big PR problem for the AMA right now.

Physicians like myself have decided to “vote” by not paying dues to an organization that we feel sold the profession out long ago. You could say the selling out was incremental and slowly progressive.

P.S. If you want to be “inclusive” and not overtly politicize your positions, you probably should not be throwing around the word, “progressive”.

]]> By: Suchita S http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99575 Suchita S Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:30:32 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99575 I'm always confused by the claim that the AMA doesn't represent the majority of physicians. While yes, most aren't members of the AMA, most are members of their respective specialty societies (eg. the ACP), which do have representation (and votes) in the AMA House of Delegates. So doesn't that indicate that it is representing the majority of physicians? I'm of the mind that solidarity is essential in order to maximize influence. As a medical student who is generally more progressive than the AMA as a whole, I know that simply throwing my hands up in the air, giving up and joining some other organization is not going to be effective because, as others have noted, the AMA has been and continues to be powerful and influential. If we leave it to stagnate in its current form, we deprive it of our moderating or dissenting voices, voices that can move the organization forward. As I tell my classmates, if you don't like the AMA, then help change it. I’m always confused by the claim that the AMA doesn’t represent the majority of physicians. While yes, most aren’t members of the AMA, most are members of their respective specialty societies (eg. the ACP), which do have representation (and votes) in the AMA House of Delegates. So doesn’t that indicate that it is representing the majority of physicians?

I’m of the mind that solidarity is essential in order to maximize influence. As a medical student who is generally more progressive than the AMA as a whole, I know that simply throwing my hands up in the air, giving up and joining some other organization is not going to be effective because, as others have noted, the AMA has been and continues to be powerful and influential. If we leave it to stagnate in its current form, we deprive it of our moderating or dissenting voices, voices that can move the organization forward. As I tell my classmates, if you don’t like the AMA, then help change it.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnson http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99566 Dr. Mary Johnson Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:49:57 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99566 A simple answer to your question is, NO. A simple answer to your question is, NO.

]]> By: ray http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99533 ray Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:40:41 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99533 Current system is a crisis maker for primary care. AMA is totally for specialists, it is amazing that they have primary care docs as members given the ill treatment they endure. American college of Physicians has a more balanced view and comes across as a fair group. Current system is a crisis maker for primary care. AMA is totally for specialists, it is amazing that they have primary care docs as members given the ill treatment they endure.
American college of Physicians has a more balanced view and comes across as a fair group.

]]> By: Anon http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99509 Anon Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:11:45 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99509 Silly question overall. Any group with money has influence in any debate they want to. Silly question overall. Any group with money has influence in any debate they want to.

]]> By: TexBryant http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99429 TexBryant Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:19:28 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99429 It seems that most are assuming that substantial changes in healthcare coverage are a done deal and that the change from Washington will be sooner than later. I too hope that we don't end up with a Medicare system for all. Whatever course is taken there does need to be much better pay for primary care physicians and better coverage for the currently uninsured. As to whether the AMA will have a voice, I do believe that they will. It seems that most are assuming that substantial changes in healthcare coverage are a done deal and that the change from Washington will be sooner than later. I too hope that we don’t end up with a Medicare system for all. Whatever course is taken there does need to be much better pay for primary care physicians and better coverage for the currently uninsured. As to whether the AMA will have a voice, I do believe that they will.

]]> By: Ayse http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99318 Ayse Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:00:44 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99318 there will never be a perfect solution, but all i know is the current system is definitely not good for the physicians. the reform attempt will be influenced by the physicians that politically active. the problem is that the majority of the main stakeholders, the physicians, of the health care delivery system are too busy to get involved in policy making process. if all the voices are not heard, the louder people's policies will be adopted and the rest of the physician community will have to follow and improvise as they always do. a more democratic approach would be a referendum to find out where all the physicians stand. there will never be a perfect solution, but all i know is the current system is definitely not good for the physicians. the reform attempt will be influenced by the physicians that politically active. the problem is that the majority of the main stakeholders, the physicians, of the health care delivery system are too busy to get involved in policy making process. if all the voices are not heard, the louder people’s policies will be adopted and the rest of the physician community will have to follow and improvise as they always do. a more democratic approach would be a referendum to find out where all the physicians stand.

]]> By: vendorMD http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/can-the-american-medical-association-still-be-an-influential-voice-in-health-reform.html/comment-page-1#comment-99316 vendorMD Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:22:54 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=38951#comment-99316 Doctors need to stand united and form a strong lobby so we can counter the insurance companies' lobby and the Drug Maker's lobby. Otherwise the new health care reform will be the same as others - reward the merchants and hammer the doctors. Doctors need to stand united and form a strong lobby so we can counter the insurance companies’ lobby and the Drug Maker’s lobby. Otherwise the new health care reform will be the same as others – reward the merchants and hammer the doctors.

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