Health System Reform Bills Pass US House
The American Medical Association (AMA) announced its support on Nov. 5 for concurrent passage of two health system reform bills being considered by the US House of Representatives.
HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care of America Act, is a sweeping health system reform bill proposed by the Democratic House leadership. It passed the House on Nov. 7.
HR 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, would repeal the broken Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) physician payment formula. It passed on Nov. 19. The Pennsylvania Medical Society asked physicians to support this legislation.
More information on the bill and the AMA’s stance is available on the AMA's health system reform website.
“On balance, HR 3962 … is consistent with our principles,” said J. James Rohack, MD, president of the AMA. “It will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans to encourage patient and physician decision making.”
In a phone call with a number of state medical societies, Cecil Wilson, MD, president-elect of the AMA, said the Board of Trustees voted to support HR 3962 because it partially addressed all seven of the AMA’s essential elements for reform. One notable divergence from the AMA’s principles is the lack of substantive medical liability reform in HR 3962.
“It’s not the perfect bill, no bills are,” said Dr. Wilson.
He said HR 3962 is also supported by the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Osteopathic Association.
Last Updated: 11/21/2009