AMA to help states on programs for uninsured

Meanwhile, a Families USA study finds that nearly 82 million Americans were without health insurance at some point in the past two years.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. July 5, 2004.

Chicago -- Physicians alarmed by the rising number of uninsured patients called on the American Medical Association to help empower the states to try to figure out how to solve the problem.

Doctors participating in the AMA Annual Meeting in June asked the organization to lobby for changes in federal rules and financing that would make it easier for states to develop and test new programs that could reduce the number of people lacking health insurance.

The Association also will work with state and specialty societies, as well as other organizations, to come up with new ideas and to better develop existing ideas on how to improve health care coverage. The AMA's Council on Medical Service will study alternatives that could expand health insurance coverage and will report its findings in June 2005.

These initiatives build off existing AMA policy stating that "all Americans must have health insurance."

"We need to get support for innovative thinking and let states develop things that work for their local areas," said New Jersey internist Mary T. Herald, MD, a delegate from the American College of Physicians.

AMA President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH, said that physicians are already providing thousands of hours of charity care, and it is time that the nation find additional ways to increase coverage.

"While we seek a national solution to provide affordable health insurance to all Americans, we also should further support current state efforts that are providing excellent care," Dr. Nelson said. "We should support the states and grassroots physicians that are undertaking efforts to care for their neighbors and families."