Why is the American Medical Association currently against the American Health Ca

1. 78

   lifelovemysteryposted 7 years ago

   Why is the American Medical Association currently against the American Health Care Act of 2017?
   
   Broad assumptions about changes to Obamacare are circulating. However, I suspect that the AMA's real concern over changes to Medicaid, is that it will force doctors to accept patients with that form of insurance. Medicaid was originally designed to provide poverty level families and children with healthcare. However, Obamacare allowed people above poverty to join the program. The reimbursement rate to doctors of Medicaid patients is very low, so they have no incentive to take on new patients with Medicaid insurance and that is one of the reasons I believe the AMA is pushing back.

   replyreport
2. 93

   lisavollrathposted 7 years ago

   Here are some excerpts from their statement:
   
   "It appears that the effort to restructure the Medicaid program will have the effect of making significant reductions in a program that provides services to our most vulnerable populations, and already pays providers significantly less than the cost of providing care."
   
   The government does not require doctors to accept Medicaid. If the program already fails to pay providers an adequate amount for their services, and Republicans want to cut funds to it, how is that encouraging doctors to accept those patients?
   
   "More than 20 million Americans currently have health care coverage due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and among the AMA's highest priorities for on-going health system reform efforts is to ensure that these individuals maintain that coverage."
   
   Current estimates are that up to 10 million of the 20 million people who have coverage under the ACA will lose it, or will be priced out of the market, and unable to afford any coverage at all.
   
   Speaking for myself, I am able to afford coverage under the ACA because I get a tax subsidy. Without that, I would be paying more per month for health insurance than I pay to my mortgage company each month.
   
   These organizations have come out against the new plan: the American Medical Association; America's Essential Hospitals; the Federation of American Hospitals; the Association of American Medical Colleges; and the Children's Hospital Association. AARP has also come out against the legislation.
   
   When doctors, hospitals and old people all tell them to go back to the drawing board, perhaps the Republicans should listen.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      lifelovemysteryposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Not tons art a an argument, those Tax subsidies are available to you because of taxes - paid in by other people and companies.

      replyreport
   2. 93

      lisavollrathposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      The subsidies also come from MY taxes. Rather than paying massive premiums monthly, in addition to my quarterly self-employment taxes, I just get a smaller tax return.

      replyreport
   3. 78

      lifelovemysteryposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa, the deductible on my employer-based health insurance is $5,000. That is not affordable healthcare, and nobody subsidizes my healthcare costs.
      Congress MUST make healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone. They need to fix Medicaid too.

      replyreport
   4. 93

      lisavollrathposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed that there are things to be fixed, always. I just don't see how giving a tax break to health insurance executives fixes the problems of those who can least afford healthcare.

      replyreport
   5. 61

      JON EWALLposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa
      since you have obamacare  what is the monthly premiums and the deductible  what is the gov paying the insurance company. Obamacare is failing,the cost to the gov taxpayers money is rising.
      Medicare Medicaid VA all gov programs problem program

      replyreport
3. 61

   JON EWALLposted 7 years ago

   hubbers
   9/7/15 Cadillac tax was designed to end employer-sponsored health insurance http://www.freedomworks.org/content/oba … -insurance
   Obama 11/04/16 Federal Regulation Raises the Cost  of Your Health Insurance https://twitter.com/rollcall/status/803758960822157312 big story KM
   5/9/14  Obamacare Employer  Mandate Will Disproportionately Hurt Low-Wage Workers http://dailycaller.com/2014/05/09/study … e-workers/
   3/20/14 Medical group that backed ObamaCare warns obscure rule could hurt doctors "significant financial risk" for doctors and hospitals http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03 … rt-doctors
   Healthcare reform http://jon-ewall.hubpages.com/hub/GOVERNMENTHEALTREFORM   abortion … Healthcare Summit http://jon-ewall.hubpages.com/hub/BARAK … CARESUMMIT … Obama Health Reform http://jon-ewall.hubpages.com/hub/Obama … mInsurance …
   
   A slightly different story than the Democrats are selling the american public .12/1516 Obamacare subsidies increase by $10 Billion as costs spiral out of control https://twitter.com/WashTimes/status/809580873242775554 big story $$
   11/21/13 How Obamacare Became LAW https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats/status … 8288266240 #1 big story Senate Leader Harry Reid cut a deal with Pelosi:’’ reconciliation  fraud
   BIG STORY THE LIE http://hubpages.com/politics/ObamaDemon … eCompanies 3/10/10 President Barak Obama Demonizes The Insurance Companies +https://twitter.com/SenateGOP/status/800746385486311424 Speaker Pelosi speaks
   12/26/13 Schumer’s claims about Democratic and GOP efforts to ‘fix’ Obamacare 12/26/13 Schumer’s claims about Democratic and GOP efforts to ‘fix’ Obamacare https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/8 … 6483562496 story obamacare 1
   http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac … ts-to-fix-
   
   Schumer is not an idiot today he is acting like one . Democrats need join together with Republicans to hammer out a good bill and law

   replyreport
   1. 78

      lifelovemysteryposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I hope that both parties can come together and work to make healthcare affordable and accessible, for everyone.

      replyreport
   2. 51

      bradmasterOCcalposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      1 in every5 Americans gets their health care thru Medicaid. Medicaid incl  people from all walks of life—range from middle-class individ who have suffered who have suffered a catastrophic illness, to seniorsl(70%  all nursing home resident rely on it

      replyreport
4. 51

   bradmasterOCcalposted 7 years ago

   AMA Letter to Congressional Leaders on Reform of Health Care System
   Jan 3, 2017
   
   
   CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) released the following letter today to congressional leadership from Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, M.D., concerning legislative efforts to reform the health care system.
   
   Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:
   
   On behalf of the physician and medical student members of the American Medical Association (AMA), I am writing regarding our ongoing commitment to reform of the health care system and potential legislative actions during the first months of the 115th Congress.
   
   The AMA has long advocated for health insurance coverage for all Americans, as well as pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of practice, and universal access for patients. These policy positions are guided by the actions of the AMA House of Delegates, composed of representatives of more than 190 state and national specialty medical associations, and they form the basis for AMA consideration of reforms to our health care system.
   
   Health system reform is an ongoing quest for improvement. The AMA supported passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because it was a significant improvement on the status quo at that time. We continue to embrace the primary goal of that law—to make high quality, affordable health care coverage accessible to all Americans. We also recognize that the ACA is imperfect and there a number of issues that need to be addressed. As such, we welcome proposals, consistent with the policies of our House of Delegates, to make coverage more affordable, provide greater choice, and increase the number of those insured.
   
   In considering opportunities to make coverage more affordable and accessible to all Americans, it is essential that gains in the number of Americans with health insurance coverage be maintained.
   
   Consistent with this core principle, we believe that before any action is taken through reconciliation or other means that would potentially alter coverage, policymakers should lay out for the American people, in reasonable detail, what will replace current policies. Patients and other stakeholders should be able to clearly compare current policy to new proposals so they can make informed decisions about whether it represents a step forward in the ongoing process of health reform.
   
   We stand ready to work with you to continue improving our health care system

   replyreport