Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
American Medical Association Retains Decades-Long Stance Against Single-Payer Health Plans
The nation's largest doctors group on Tuesday voted against聽a measure that would have dropped its decades-long opposition to single-payer health care proposals. The American Medical Association's (AMA) House of Delegates voted 53 percent to 47 percent against聽the measure,聽but adopted a slate of proposals to shore up the Affordable Care Act. (Hellmann, 6/11)
On Tuesday, delegates voted down a proposal to shift the AMA's official stance on single-payer insurance to neutrality. "We proposed this amendment because we are concerned about the AMA's ability to be invited to all healthcare reform conversations," Daniel Pfeifle, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said on behalf of the Medical Student Section. "As long as we maintain our blanket opposition, our AMA cannot ensure we're part of every conversation." (Frieden, 6/11)
"As long as we maintain our blanket opposition our AMA cannot ensure we are a part of every conversation," said Dan Pfeifle, a fourth-year medical student at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and an alternate delegate of the AMA's Medical Student Section. Delegates ended up voting overwhelming in favor of adopting a report from the AMA's Council on Medical Service that reaffirmed efforts to improve upon the Affordable Care Act instead of "nationalized" healthcare coverage. (Johnson, 6/11)
As the nation inches closer to the 2020 presidential election, issues with the U.S. health care system are moving into the spotlight. At stake: the future of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare; proposals to expand 鈥淢edicare for All鈥; and ideas to target high drug prices. They鈥檙e all topics sure to spark fierce debate in coming months. (Shencker, 6/11)
And in Massachusetts 鈥
Supporters of single-payer health care are rallying behind legislation that would transform Massachusetts鈥 health care system, a sign of lingering frustration with the status quo, even in a state that prides itself on being a leader in access to medical care. The so-called Medicare for All legislation would raise taxes and eliminate private health insurance while putting the state in charge of all payments to doctors and hospitals. (McCluskey, 6/11)
