AMA opposes government-backed healthcare

Add the American Medical Association to the list of those who oppose government-backed healthcare. The organization said it "strongly opposes" such an idea, as well as the possibility of allowing patients under the age of 65 to receive Medicare treatment in a written testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Modern Healthcare reports.

Two dozen speakers were schedule to talk to the HELP committee on the issue Thursday, including AMA board member Samantha Rosman, Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Delos Cosgrove, and Chip Kahn, who serves as president of the Federation of American Hospitals.

According to Modern Healthcare, AMA is worried about payments; many doctors already believe that Medicare and Medicaid rates are too low to begin with.

All of this comes on the heels of Sen. Kent Conrad's (D-ND) proposed "co-op" plan that has both Republicans and Democrats in Congress cautiously optimistic, as well as President Obama's scheduled address to an AMA meeting in Chicago next week.

For more on the AMA's opposition to a government-backed health insurance plan:
- read this Modern Healthcare article

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