Health System Reform Townhalls

The American Medical Association (AMA) conducted regional forums with physicians across the country speaking about the myths and facts of Health System Reform. These questions were recorded from a session with New York and Pennsylvania physicians conducted by AMA Immediate Past President Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD and AMA Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Rich Deem.

Question 1: Why does the AMA support HR3200?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 2: Does this bill socialize medicine?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 3: Does the bill limit treatments for Medicare patients?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 4: Why would the AMA support any bill without medical liability reform?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 5: Are there any restrictions on the physician-patient relationship in the legislation?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President Answered by Rich Deem SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009

Question 6: Is there improved primary care reimbursement in the bill?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President Answered by Rich Deem SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009

Question 7: Did the AMA read HR3200?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 8: How are cost, quality and workforce shortages addressed?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 9: Do insured Americans keep their coverage in the existing bill?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 10: Why is the AMA working with the Obama administration on health system reform?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President Answered by Rich Deem SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009

Question 11: Will there be an independent body to regulate Medicare expenditures?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President Answered by Rich Deem, SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009

Question 12: What is the Congressional Budget Office assessment of bill HR3200?
Answered by Rich Deem, SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009

Question 13: Why are educational training costs not addressed in the current bill?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 14: What should physicians be doing now to get involved with health system reform? Will the AMA be available to speak to physicians in state and specialty societies?
Answered by Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, AMA Immediate Past President
August, 28,2009

Question 15: Is there anything in the bill that addresses geographic variations in terms of health care costs?
Answered by Rich Deem, SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association
August, 28,2009