Dear AMA: I Quit!

from HuffPost:





Dr. Chris McCoy
Policy Chair for the National Physicians Alliance

Posted: June 11, 2009

Dear AMA: I Quit!


Dear American Medical Association,

I recently had the opportunity to read your response to the Senate Finance Committee proposal for health care reform, and it is clear to me that I cannot remain a member in your organization. Please remove my name from your membership rolls, effective immediately.

In reading the response, I was frustrated and disheartened by the fact that you couldn't get through the second paragraph before bringing up the issue of physician reimbursement. This merely highlights how the AMA represents a physician-centered and self-interested perspective rather than honoring the altruistic nature of my profession. As a physician, I advocate first for what is best for my patients and believe that as a physician, as long as I continue to maintain the trust and integrity of the profession, I will earn the respect of my community. The appropriate financial compensation for my endeavors will follow in kind.

I encourage the AMA leadership to read Atul Gawande's recent article describing how physician culture drives up the cost of health care without benefiting patient outcomes. At the heart of this problem are physicians who have a vision of themselves as money-generating profit centers rather than professionals serving the public good. The AMA represents, and encourages, this mindset with its single-focus on physician reimbursement over all other health care reform issues.

However, the most disappointing aspect of the AMA's response to the proposed health care reforms was the opposition to the public health insurance option. I simply cannot support an organization that opposes the public health insurance plan for my patients. Instead of advocating for patients, the AMA is supporting the private insurance industry, which has been a driving force in creating the dysfunction health care system we have today. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-chris-mccoy/dear-ama-i-quit_b_214318.html

:applause:

Note to self: read rest of thread before posting.

:hide:

I'm guessing he hears it at least once a day.

:P

he's a doctor, not a punchline. :spank:

the Trek thing?

and appreciated! :rofl:

:rofl:

My hat goes off to the humanitarian; Dr. McCoy:yourock: :patriot:

:rofl::thumbsup::rofl:

Thousands of doctors dropping out of the AMA will send a loud and clear message!

Dr. McCoy seems to be a person of integrity. His patients are lucky to have him as their doctor, I'll bet.

If you look at the numbers in the student organization then you will see that they are in serious trouble. They have taken to basically giving away student memberships. There is another student medical association that is kicking their ass.

And then if you look at the raising numbers of the physicians for single payer organization you will see that many doctors already recognize the problem.

In primary care clinics like ours (bias disclosure - I own part of a clinic) it is becoming increasingly common for offices to no longer bill or deal with insurance companies. We supply patients (those with insurance) with a superbill with all diagnostic and procedural codes on it so they can get reimbursed, BUT more importantly for those without insurance, by cutting our overhead costs (at least those related to fighting insurance companies) we are able to offer our services to patients without insurance at a MUCH better price.

Interesting factoid, for every doctor there are 3 people employed to do insurance billing, 1 for the doc, and 2 for the insurance company. Another interesting factoid, in the USA every doctor treating a patient covered by insurance must get approval for everything they do or recommend from some clerk in some insurance companies office. In Canada the only person allowed to make medical decision is a doctor. So much for the right wing meme that "socialized" medicine will cripple everyone for life.

I hope more follow this doctor, and do the same.

article:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x451835

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8459625

:applause:

instead of people. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 In E. TN & SWVA, clearly Profit Care is more important than Patient Care.

love it!

I'm flabbergasted at the AMA. I thought Doctors had come round on this one....I heard a statistic quoted recently that said some 60 percent of the profession was for a decent public option, even single payer...and that the percentage is even higher among pediatricians and others who have more far reaching practices.
My heart sank when I read the AMA thing in the NYTimes this morning.

the AMA only has about 20% of Drs as members. They certainly don't advertise how small a percentage of physicians support them.
And I'm hoping their membership drops precipitously after this.

Dr. McCoy :yourock:

K&R

They represent the companies that advertise in their rag of a medical journal.

They are a reactionary bunch of greedy money grubbers IMHO. Their main interests is in keeping specialists busy and overpaid. Disease prevention would be a bad thing for many of them, because they make their Lexus payments by supplying expensive fixes to problems that should have been prevented in the first place. They shot down national health care in the 1940s, tried to shoot down Medicare and will do just about anything to keep our current broken and expensive health care system afloat.

would actually make money off of Medicare and Medicaid (but especially Medicare), and they dropped their opposition to such programs, that they were able to be implemented. The AMA has never represented the interests of patients, it's always been about the moolah. It was even against the implementation of social security disability, believe it or not. For whatever ridiculously absurd reason, I will never figure out.

Most doctors I've had have NOT been AMA members for the very reasons discussed by the OP, and many more. Many of them were unbelievably frustrated by insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry, especially those who actually wanted to treat and care for their patients and not just pour pills into them for every little thing. I usually drop the doctors who are the AMA-bots, like a hot potato. I have no patience with them whatsoever. Of course, hubby and I don't have insurance right now, so we're limited in our choice of doctors, when we can even afford to go to one at all.

that most doctors do not have the integrity of Dr. McCoy. I live in South Orange County (CA) where many of the doctors' offices look like 5 star hotels. With marble foyers, soothing fountains and granite counter tops at reception.

Of course, they don't extend that to patient seating. Their waiting rooms consist of hard chairs, and a handful of out of date magazines.

They exercise great restraint when it comes to spending. Those doctors. They know where to draw the line.

(I don't need this :sarcasm: , do I?)

I hope he is one of many. The money grubbing AMA needs a take down. Unfortunately the AMA is chock full of medical stock owning pugs who look on their profession as a gold mine.

Dr. McCoy for holding onto your integrity. Now, if only the rest of the profession would remember why they became Dr.'s.

Many did it because of the money.

It turned my concept on its ear. A very good read, indeed.

Well said!

:kick:

companies out of business, that it would not lead to SPHC as many are claiming.

"...I challenge the AMA leadership to cite a single example of an industry where involvement by the government has lead to the elimination of private enterprise..."


Also insurance companies have all been given a seat at the table, the most notable group who has been excluded are SP advocates.

It is not the insurance companies who will be served as lunch.


"...As a great policy wonk once said, "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."

And a K&R for the post, of course.

The AMA is dying. Their membership has been steadily dropping for years. They saw their profits decline almost 90% in 2008.

Good for Dr. McCoy, tho. He's a man of principle.

like him?

When I was in the Army, our battalion flight surgeon was an excellent doctor and all-around great guy. We used to hang out together a lot. One day I asked him if he became a doctor so he could help people. He looked at me and started laughing and said "Hell no. I did it because I want to make lots of money." At least he was honest. And good at his job.

Or malpractice insurance? Or licensure? Or board certification?

Go ahead, read the whole thing. Even follow a link or two. Then try your response again.

We'll still be here.

Yeah, they will betray their patients for a few dollars more? I guess they are products of their friends the insurance companies, not to mention the drug companies.

(I know I say that a lot!)

headed last I heard by the quite compassionate and pro-universal health care Dr. Richard O. Butcher.

to be a physician.

Back in the 50's, my grandfather was a state lobbyist for the Texas Chiropractic Association. He told me all kinds of stories about the dirty, rotten, under-handed methods the AMA used to keep other medical modalities from becoming legislatively accepted. So, I've known about what a bunch of crooks, thieves and non-healers the AMA is. They've had a great PR machine and it is finally breaking down. I would wager the majority of the membership for that organization are accountants and MBA's, and those obsessed with money. I suspect they would step over a dying person to pick up a $100 bill.

After hearing the stories from my Grandfather, I have no doubt about that fact.

Drug Bill. The leadership in these groups can be bought easily and the GOP knows it.

Sickening. Nobody seems to give a fuck about their constituents... Elected Officials or Organizational Leaders.

Rp

"as long as I continue to maintain the trust and integrity of the profession, I will earn the respect of my community. The appropriate financial compensation for my endeavors will follow in kind"

:grouphug:

Not a corporate a** kisser.

Amen