Doctors endorse single-payer (because access to health care had deteriorated)

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20071204_Doctors_endorse_single-payer.html

American College of Physicians said it backed the system because access to health care had deteriorated.

By Stacey Burling

Inquirer Staff Writer
The Philadelphia-based American College of Physicians - the nation's second-largest physician group - endorsed a single-payer health-care system yesterday.

But the organization stopped short of saying that a single-payer system like Medicare, in which the government would get and pay most bills, is the best way to achieve universal health coverage.

The group said the country also could do that through expansion of the current mix of private insurance and government coverage. Under the proposal, people would be required to get health insurance.

While some physicians have formed organizations that push for single-payer, David Dale, president of the ACP, said his was the largest general-interest doctor group to support the controversial idea.

The group said change was necessary because access to health care had deteriorated.

The largest physician group in the United States, the American Medical Association, does not support single-payer. Earlier this year, it released a proposal to expand insurance coverage, primarily through tax incentives and changes in insurance regulations.

FULL story at link.

This needs to stop.

Americans are simply not using the medical system- unless they absolutely have to.

The College of Physicians has traditionally been a group of highly respected MDs.
I used to go to the college to do some of my research. They still have a large herb garden along side the building- keeping with the tradition of homeopathy from years ago.