Expanding coverage for the uninsured and increasing access to care

The AMA is committed to leading the response of America's physicians to solve the health coverage crisis for all uninsured patients.

The AMA strongly advocates changes to expand health insurance coverage and choice to all patients, regardless of income or health status. We propose three specific actions to leverage the vast resources already devoted to health care and give patients more control over our nation’s health care dollars, without sacrificing personal security or choice. We also recognize that reform efforts must address rising health care costs and advocate strategies to achieve greater value for health spending. Learn more about how the AMA reform proposal (PDF, 302KB) would dramatically improve the U.S. health care system.

At the same time, the AMA supports incremental measures to improve coverage, such as targeting tax subsidies for health insurance to low-income workers and intensifying outreach to enroll currently eligible children and adults in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

In addition, on Jan. 18, 2007, the AMA announced its partnership with the Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured (HCCU). The Press Release (PDF, 41KB) contains the names of the participating organizations, and the Final Agreement (PDF, 154KB) outlines the coalition's consensus.