President Obama Addresses AMA Annual Meeting

Today President Barack Obama spoke to the AMA House of Delegates, outlining his plan for health care reform and encouraging physicians to be part of a meaningful solution. ASA President Roger A. Moore, M.D., was one of several ASA members in attendance.

“I appreciate the President’s commitment to ensuring that patients have access to affordable health insurance, as well as high quality medical care. It is a goal we all share.” Moore said. “Moreover, President Obama seems to genuinely understand the vital role of physicians in the safe, effective and efficient delivery of health care, and I commend him for his comments about allowing physicians to be ‘physicians instead of administrators and accountants.’

“I was encouraged by the President's recognition that many physicians have concerns about the public option based upon Medicare. While ASA neither supports nor opposes a public plan option, we simply cannot support any plan built upon Medicare’s long underfunded payment levels for anesthesia and pain services," the ASA President said.

"We sincerely want to work with the Administration and Congress on proposals that expand access to health insurance. However, we want to do so in a manner that does not continue or expand flawed Medicare-related payment policies in the process.”