Jan. 19, 2010

Here's your regular update on efforts by the American Medical Association (AMA) to work with lawmakers in reforming the nation's health care system in a way that provides quality, affordable health care for all.

Congress and administration continue health system reform negotiations
Congressional leaders and President Obama continue to negotiate differences in health system reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, with the goal of drafting a final package prior to the State of the Union address planned for Jan. 27. Last week, negotiators held a marathon session which lasted an entire day and into the night, and meetings continued throughout the weekend.

It is reported that the final package is likely to include a modified version of the Senate-passed tax on high-cost insurance plans, and a health insurance exchange that is described as a hybrid between the Senate's state-based approach and the national structure adopted by the House. Lawmakers continue to negotiate many details and controversial issues, such as federal interaction in abortion services and Medicaid expansions.

Despite the progress that has been made, the outlook of a compromise bill has been clouded by today's special election in Massachusetts, which appears to threaten the Senate's 60-seat Democratic majority.

AMA letter opposes Independent Payment Advisory Board
The AMA sent a letter (PDF) Jan. 13 to Congressional leaders in opposition to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) provision in the Senate-passed health system reform bill, H.R. 3590. The letter expresses the AMA's continued opposition to any independent commission, like the IPAB, being empowered to reduce payments to physicians under a new expenditure target system when they are already subject to cuts under the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

AMA writes Congress on health system reform issues
The AMA sent a letter (PDF) Jan. 15 to all members of Congress expressing continued thoughts and concerns about various issues under consideration in health reform negotiations. Among them, the AMA expressed the critical need to repeal the SGR; opposition to the IPAB; support for a House provision increasing Medicaid primary care physician payments to Medicare rates; support for physician-owned hospitals; and concern for the potential subjection of physicians to new causes of action or legal liability resulting from reform policies.

AMA hosts conference call with House of Delegates
A conference call was held Jan. 13 for all delegates and alternate delegates to the AMA House of Delegates to discuss issues related to health system reform. Speaker to the AMA House of Delegates, Jeremy Lazarus, MD, Vice Speaker Andrew Gurman, MD, and AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, briefed participants on the current status of health system reform negotiations and AMA advocacy efforts. Dr. Rohack fielded questions that were submitted by many of the approximately 250 delegates and alternate delegates who registered for the call.

AMA letter to Congress regarding various issues in reform negotiations (PDF)

AMA letter to Congress regarding IPAB provision in H.R. 3590 (PDF)

AMA letter to Congress urging permanent repeal of SGR formula (PDF)

Summary comparison of H.R. 3590 to H.R. 3962 and AMA policy (PDF)

AMA Legislative Action Center

AMA Vision for Health System Reform

AMA Physicians' Grassroots Network and Patients' Action Network

Health Care for All Americans Web site

Health system reform articles from American Medical News