Tackling Negative Perceptions
"I’m just not interested"
With the health system changing so rapidly, it’s essential that the critical issues you face every day are aggressively addressed before Congress, the media and the courts. And the AMA is the ONLY medical association which can, and does, represent all of our nation’s physicians. The more physicians who are members of the AMA, the greater our political clout.
"I belong to another association"
State and specialty societies do an excellent job of representing your practice-related concerns. But it is increasingly important that physicians confront today’s national health care challenges together. Only the AMA has the resources and widespread physician support to address your practice-related concerns in Washington—and across the country. The AMA actively defends the core principles of the profession.
"I’m not getting my money’s worth!" or "AMA dues are too expensive!"
Your AMA membership provides invaluable support for your practice—usually for less than the monthly cost of a health club membership, internet service or cable television! Regular Membership of $420 a year comes to just $35 a month. Reduced rates for students, residents and young physicians makes membership an even greater value! You get subscriptions to Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Medical News (AMNews) and access to the Members-Only Web site. And there are numerous products and services offered free or at a discount. For instance, with your membership you receive up to 4 free CPT coding inquiries a year.
But there is another cost to consider:
And that is the value of the nation’s physicians having a strong voice. Joined together, there is strength in numbers to fight against unnecessary regulatory red tape, and to fight for managed care reform, or patients’ and physicians’ rights.
"I disagree with the AMA’s policy on _________"
Not all physicians agree on all issues. It’s not unusual for a member to disagree with a particular position taken by the AMA House of Delegates. The AMA is the forum for debate on health care issues and representatives from all states and specialties that determine AMA policy. Your membership guarantees that your point of view will be heard. It’s easier now than ever before with the AMA Members-Only Web site. Whether you agree or disagree with current policies, it should be up to physicians to determine the future of our profession. Not government. Not lawyers. Not third parties concerned more with profits than with patient care.
"The AMA is not very effective!"
Not all AMA achievements get widespread attention. Some are quiet gains—like defeating legislative bills before they become laws, or small but positive changes in regulatory laws. Washington’s Roll Call magazine calls the AMA "one of the most powerful advocacy organizations in the nation."
"I don’t like politics"
One cannot stress enough that the practice of medicine and the art of healing should always remain beyond the scope of politics. Protecting the patient-physician relationship and working so that all patients have access to health care are, and will always be, a fundamental part of the AMA’s philosophy.
In a world where health care resources are under relentless pressure, politics does play a role in their development and allocation. That’s why as the nation’s most effective physician advocacy organization, the AMA takes its responsibility very seriously. As the only national group that unites every state and medical specialty, the AMA is fully engaged in addressing the most pressing professional and public health issues of our time. From the nation’s capitol to the grassroots level, the AMA is focused on forging a unified front that gives every physician a powerful voice as we work together for meaningful change.
"I don’t have time; I don’t do extracurricular activities."
As an AMA member you have the option to be as active or passive as fits your needs. The AMA will work toward your interests even if you choose not to take an active role, but should you decide to voice your opinion, it will be heard. By remaining an AMA member you guarantee that you have a voice in an organization that is working for you regardless of how active a role you decide to take.
State and specialty societies do an excellent job of representing your practice-related concerns, but it is increasingly important that we confront today’s national health care challenges together. Only the AMA has the resources and widespread support to address your concerns at the national level.
"With the critical issues currently facing the health care system, how can simply becoming an AMA member help the cause?"
Membership is crucial for maximum success in all matters of policy implementation. AMA is a major part of my professional life. I cannot see any other option. It is our only way to solve the problems of health care policy and ethics. When we work together there is no obstacle too great. Divided we are only self-serving voices all crying out for different objectives. Together, we all win. Teamwork of organized medicine does make a difference.
The simplest thing any physician can do for our profession is to become a member. It is the easiest and most effective way to be active in bettering the health care system, as well as represent physicians on a national level. Goals are far more attainable when we come together. We can no longer count on others to do our part.
"The AMA is pretentious"
The AMA is such a large organization that it might not seem very down-to-earth. Although it appears to some to be bigger than life, it’s really not—it’s actually very accessible to all who want to get involved.
In fact, the AMA is made up of individuals who want to make a difference. It’s full of hardworking students, residents and physicians in all stages of their careers who want more than anything to do what’s right for patients and for the profession of medicine.
AMA members are working together to shape the future of medicine at every level—in medical schools, in physician practices, in communities and in Congress.
Visit www.ama-assn.org to explore the many ways to get involved in the AMA and to learn about how the AMA can help during medical school and beyond.
"The AMA only cares about reimbursement and financial issues"
Not true. As proof, we encourage everyone to review the AMA Agenda. This agenda, which explains and guides all of the AMA’s most important efforts, addresses issues that concern our members, such as expanding coverage for the uninsured, improving patient safety, and combating racial and ethnic health disparities.
To improve the overall environment in which medicine is practiced and health care is delivered, the AMA is committed to finding comprehensive solutions that take into account the many social, financial and ethical considerations facing physicians today.
"The AMA is too conservative and not sensitive to diversity issues"
The AMA is not the stuffy, conservative organization that some believe it to be. Recently, we completely overhauled the AMA’s brand identity. Why? To accurately reflect that the nation’s most influential voice for medicine has not only undergone significant changes, but that its commitment extends to all physicians.
By adopting the powerful "Together we are stronger" call to action, the AMA actively invites all medical students and physicians to participate in protecting and advancing the interests of physicians and patients nationwide.
The AMA’s commitment to recognizing and providing timely information and representation to an increasingly diverse membership is paying off. With four professional life-cycle sections (e.g., medical students, senior physicians) and seven special interest group sections (e.g., the Women Physicians Congress, the Minority Affairs Consortium), we’re doing a better job each day of addressing the incredible variety of needs and interests that our members have. Just one example of this success is the AMA International Medical Graduates Section, which today has more than 35,000 members representing dozens of countries and cultures.
