AMA

March 31, 2008 -- WASHINGTON– Nearly 300 medical student, resident and fellow members of the American Medical Association (AMA) from across the nation are storming Capitol Hill today urging Congress to protect access to care for America's patients. Throughout the day, the students, residents and fellows will visit House and Senate offices asking Congress to alleviate medical student debt, adopt effective reforms to cover the uninsured and stop Medicare payment cuts to preserve seniors' access to health care.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eight out of 10 Americans are concerned about access to care for seniors’ and baby boomers because of government cuts to physicians caring for Medicare patients, according to a new public poll released today by the American Medical Association (AMA). On July 1, Medicare payments to physicians will be cut 10.6 percent, and over the next decade the cuts will grow to about 40 percent while medical practice costs increase 20 percent.    » read more »

March 14, 2008 -- Statement of Nancy Nielsen, MD, AMA President-elect:

"New legislation introduced by Senator Stabenow is the critical ingredient needed to save seniors' access to care as it stops this year's harsh Medicare payment cut to physicians. In three short months Medicare will cut physician payments by 10.6 percent. This cut will be a disaster for Medicare patients as 60 percent of physicians say it will force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can treat.    » read more »

Patients still at risk because reforms not enacted nationwide

Feb. 5, 2008 -- CHICAGO — New research on medical liability reforms continues to show that caps on non-economic damages are effective, lowering medical liability premiums, resulting in an increased supply of physicians to care for patients. A new analysis of independent research summarized by the American Medical Association (AMA) provides an update on the positive impact of caps on non-economic damages on the broken medical liability system.    » read more »

Jan. 24, 2008 -- WASHINGTON — As President Bush prepares to address the top domestic and foreign policy issues facing the nation, American voters consistently cite health care as a top domestic priority. While there is much good in the delivery of health care, there are also areas in need of great improvement, notably providing all Americans with health care coverage and reforming Medicare.    » read more »

Jan. 10, 2008 -- Statement of Ronald M. Davis, MD, AMA President:

"The AMA is concerned that the federal government received failing grades for its tobacco control legislation and policies. It's a cruel irony that tobacco, the number one cause of preventable death, is one of the least regulated products. This report serves as a reminder that we need meaningful legislative reforms to give the FDA strong regulatory authority over tobacco products.    » read more »

AMA reacts to annual campaign for tobacco free-kids report on tobacco

Statement of Ronald M. Davis, MD, AMA President:

“At a time when a growing number of states and communities are going smoke-free, states are still not doing enough to help smokers quit. While the annual report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids clearly finds that more money was spent by states on tobacco prevention and cessation programs this year, only three states – Maine, Delaware and Colorado – are fully funding these programs at CDC-recommended minimum levels.    » read more »