American Medical Association Clarifies Stance on Public Plan

On Thursday, the American Medical Association clarified its statement that it is opposed to a government-run health insurance option, CongressDaily reports (Edney, CongressDaily, 6/12).

AMA President Nancy Nielsen said, "The AMA opposes any public plan that forces physicians to participate, expands the fiscally challenged Medicare program or pays Medicare rates, but the AMA is willing to consider other variations of a public plan that are currently under discussion in Congress" (Tumulty, "Swampland," Time, 6/11).

In her statement, Nielsen specifically noted a proposal by Senate Budget Committee Chair Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) that would create publicly owned insurance cooperatives (Wayne, CQ Today, 6/11).

AMA officials on Thursday told senators at a roundtable meeting hosted by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that they would like to see further details on Conrad's plan.

AMA trustee Samantha Rosman said that AMA "is open to consideration of a new health insurance option that is market based," adding, "No legislative details have yet been put forth, and we do look forward to reviewing those ideas" (Hunt, CongressDaily, 6/12).

According to CongressDaily, AMA's changing position on a public plan upset some of its members and likely will be a divisive issue at the association's conference next week in Chicago (Edney, CongressDaily, 6/11).