AMA

Vote Expected This Week; Bill Repeals Broken Physician Payment Formula That Hurts Access to Care for Seniors and Military Families

Nov. 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. –Today, leading advocates for seniors, military families and physicians joined together to call for passage of legislation in the House that will preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families through repeal of the broken Medicare physician payment formula.

A vote on H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, is expected this week, and the American Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers of America (MOAA) call on members of Congress to honor the federal government's obligations to seniors and military families and pass the bill.    » read more »

Access to Care for Seniors and Military Families at Stake; Campaign to pass bill includes new radio ads airing today

Nov. 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Urging swift passage of a bill to repeal the broken Medicare physician payment formula that threatens seniors’ access to care, the AMA added a new dimension to its Medicare campaign today with radio ads airing in markets across the nation. In addition to the ads, the AMA is activating its nationwide grassroots network of patients and physicians and intensifying communication to physicians through online and social media.    » read more »

Outlines details to guide efforts toward making the health system better for patients and physicians

Nov. 9, 2009 -- HOUSTON – The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates today voted on health system reform policies, reaffirming the AMA’s commitment to health system reform. The AMA's House of Delegates is the nation's broadest, most inclusive assembly of physicians and medical students. Delegates representing every state and medical specialty debate and vote on behalf of their physician peers.    » read more »

Calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of Medicare

Nov. 7, 2009 -- Statement of J. James Rohack, MD, President, American Medical Association:

“The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program. Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year. The AMA will continue its work with Congress and the administration to strengthen and improve health reform legislation as the process continues for patients and physicians.    » read more »

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

November 05, 2009 -- THE PRESIDENT: Hey! Hello, everybody. Please sit down. Good afternoon, everybody. I wanted to come down and just talk a little bit about health care before Robert gives his regular briefing.

I am extraordinarily pleased and grateful to learn that the AARP and the American Medical Association are both supporting the health insurance reform bill that will soon come up to a vote in the House of Representatives.    » read more »

Nov. 2, 2009 -- CHICAGO – November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and to mark its start the American Medical Association (AMA) is offering the public easy tips to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.

“Diabetes is a serious disease, but it can be controlled and often prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said AMA Board Member David O. Barbe, MD. “Eating right, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight all greatly reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.”    » read more »

Puts Seniors’ Access to Care at Risk; AMA calls on Congress to permanently fix Medicare physician payment formula

Oct. 30, 2009 -- Statement of J. James Rohack, MD, President, American Medical Association:

“Medicare’s final 2010 payment rule confirms that in 60 days physicians face steep cuts of 21.2 percent – the largest payment cut since Congress adopted the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment formula. Access to care and choice of physician for seniors, baby boomers and military families is at serious risk – and Congress must fix the payment formula once and for all this year.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— Today, AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA) sent a letter to the Senate, urging Senators to pass S. 1776, the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, which lays the foundation for a new payment system to help ensure seniors' access to and choice of physicians.

If left unchecked, physicians face an unprecedented 21.5 percent cut in Medicare payment rates in 2010, with additional cuts in future years. These cuts will hurt older Americans who rely on Medicare and baby boomers who soon will.

Uncertainty about whether Congress will prevent the cuts has contributed to the decision of some physicians to stop taking Medicare patients, making finding a doctor increasingly difficult for millions of seniors in Medicare.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – One week after the President’s address to the American Medical Association (AMA), the group today formally endorsed legislation introduced by U.S. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) that would bar the federal government from denying health-care treatment to a patient based on cost.

In its letter, that AMA writes it “strongly supports government funding that will increase quality comparative clinical effectiveness research…and welcome[s] the provisions in S. 1259 that ensure CER findings will guide physician and patient decision-making, not dictate it.”    » read more »

“Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” promotes disease prevention and healthy lifestyles

June 22, 2009 -- Statement of J. James Rohack, MD, AMA President:

“As long-time advocates for strong regulation of the tobacco industry, the AMA is honored to stand with President Obama today as he signs the historic tobacco law. Today’s historic bill signing is a victory for public health over Big Tobacco.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today at its Annual Meeting to adopt the following new public health policies.

FLU PROTECTION GUIDELINES FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL: The recent outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus highlights the importance of basic hygiene to help protect patients from the flu. The confined nature of air travel poses an increased risk for influenza to passengers who are exposed to a sick flight mate who is coughing and/or sneezing.    » read more »

President Obama calls for health reform, asks for doctors’ help

June 15, 2009 -- CHICAGO, IL – The American Medical Association warmly welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama to its 158th annual meeting in Chicago. Like the president, the AMA is committed to health reform this year that provides all Americans with affordable, high-quality health coverage.

“We have a historic opportunity for reform this year, and the AMA is actively working for health reform that covers the uninsured, makes insurance more affordable, increases the value our nation receives from its health-care spending and enhances prevention and wellness for patients,” said Dr. Nielsen.    » read more »

Contributes to effort to bend spending curve to help move health reform forward

June 1, 2009 -- Statement of Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, President, American Medical Association:

“The American Medical Association (AMA) joined with five other organizations in the health sector today to outline initiatives to help achieve President Obama’s goal of decreasing the health-care cost growth rate by 1.5 percent, saving $2 trillion or more over the next 10 years.    » read more »

Statement of J. James Rohack, MD, AMA President-elect

May 11, 2009 -- "The need for health reform that provides coverage and high quality, affordable health care for all Americans is clear. Rising health care costs strain individual, business and government budgets, and projected increases in health spending are not sustainable. The AMA is committed to action to help achieve greater value from our nation's health care spending. We want to help bend the spending curve and move forward on health reform.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States and internationally. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.

The CDC has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick as well as on the use of face masks in a community setting where the spread of this swine flu virus has occurred. For the most recent information concerning swine flu infection, please see the CDC Web site.    » read more »