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American Medical Association Support For Individual Mandate Hasn’t Changed, Says President
July 11, 2011
The American Medical Association’s House of Delegates recently voted to reaffirm its support for “individual responsibility” in the purchase of health insurance provided that individuals unable to afford insurance have assistance available to them, according to President Cecil B. Wilson. Wilson indicated that the vote was “overwhelmingly” in favor of the health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152), including the provision requiring all Americans have health insurance or face a financial penalty.
Wilson noted that the AMA delegates “came to a decision to reaffirm a policy that was originally established in the middle of the last decade. We’re proud of that, and the AMA believes that that’s the right course.”
In addition, delegates “reaffirmed support for AMA policy supporting health insurance tax credits and health insurance market regulation, health savings accounts, and direct subsidies for the coverage of high risk patients,” according to an AMA statement.
In response to a question on a press call after the vote suggesting that many doctors were leaving the AMA because of the association’s support for the individual mandate, Wilson said that membership had dropped between 1 and 2 percent more in 2010 than in 2009. He noted that some doctors had said they were dropping out because of the health care law, while others said they were joining because of it, and said that “we do not believe that the debate over health system reform had a significant effect in regard to our membership.”
Health News
- CBO Proactively Anticipates Lawmakers’ Needs, Says CBO Director
At a recent joint Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage and U.S. Chamber of Commerce event, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said the agency has begun to research the effectiveness of healthy behavior on controlling health care costs.
- Affordable Care Act Makes Preventive Services More Accessible To Americans
Under the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148), if you and your family enrolled in a new health plan on or after September 23, 2010, your insurance provider is now required to cover certain recommended preventive services without charging you a co-pay, co-insurance or deductible.
- Americans With Pre-Existing Health Conditions Gain Health Coverage
Although the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) became law in March 2010, many of its provisions will not go into effect until as late as 2014. One provision of the legislation that has yet to take effect is a new consumer protection provision that prevents private insurance companies from discriminating against or refusing insurance to patients with pre-existing health conditions.
- House Members Urge Administration to Support Health IT for Small Physician Practices
The administration’s health IT program has given doctors and hospital officials financial incentives to adopt Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems that meet federal standards, but lawmakers on the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology are questioning whether the Obama administration has done enough to help physicians in small practices.
- Commonwealth Fund: Affordable Care Act Making A Difference For Young Adults
Young adults lack health insurance at the highest rate of any age group, and have the lowest rate of access to employer-based insurance. However, a recent study from The Commonwealth Fund found that the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) is already making a difference for them.
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