AMA statement on the 'skinny' bill in Senate health debate

Statement attributed to:
David O. Barbe, M.D.
President, American Medical Association

“Action is needed to address problems in the individual insurance market, but the so-called 'skinny' bill is a toxic prescription that would make matters worse. Eliminating the individual mandate will lead to adverse selection, triggering higher premiums and further destabilizing the individual market. The stated goal was to advance policies to lower premiums, but the 'skinny' bill would do the exact opposite, harming patients across the country.