AMA to the Austin American-Statesman: Covering the uninsured

Austin American-Statesman
Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The American Medical Association is committed to extending health care coverage to all Americans and we've worked for more than 10 years to make it happen ("Don't inject fear into the health care debate," Paul Krugman column, July 12). The AMA joined forces with 15 other national organizations, as part of the Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured, to develop a plan that focuses on covering kids as the first step to covering all Americans.

The AMA has a well-defined plan that, if adopted on a federal level, has the potential to cover the millions of uninsured Americans now struggling to get the health care they need.

The AMA proposal builds on the strengths of our current system, focuses on fairness and increased choice, and supports tax credits that would provide the most money to lower-income Americans. The AMA is glad to see the issue of the uninsured in the spotlight, but we disagree that the best solution is to sign our health care system over to the government. Americans need effective, feasible solutions, and the AMA has worked hard to offer our best.

Sincerely,

Ron Davis, MD
President, American Medical Association