OPINIONClout: The force of 819,000 voices in WashingtonAMA Leader Commentary. By John C. Nelson MD, MPH, April 18, 2005. A message to all physicians from AMA President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R, Tenn.), spoke to the AMA's National Advocacy Conference last month in Washington, D.C. He noted that the number of physicians in the U.S. Senate had just doubled -- to two. He then alluded to the 58 senators with legal backgrounds. He could have added 160 lawyers among the 315 members of the House. That box score summarizes our challenge in being heard in the great national dialogue on matters of medicine. Two U.S. senators and 10 representatives understand intimately what we face in dealing with the issues that plague the other 819,000 of us who practice medicine in America. But what about the other 98 senators and 305 representatives? Obviously, our mutual efforts through AMA advocacy programs must be having an effect, because everyone we heard from in official Washington echoed the same refrain: When the AMA speaks, they hear what we think about medical liability reform, physician payment systems and other issues. Dr. Frist, Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, repeatedly cited the need for our support to expedite needed changes in the U.S. health care system. Leavitt, noting that demographics is destiny, admitted a doubling of the Medicare-age population in 10 years will put enormous strains on the system, and more -- not fewer -- physicians will be needed. [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2005 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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