AMA endorses Democrats' healthcare manager's amendment

Senate Democrats' revised healthcare effort won the last-minute, symbolic endorsement of the American Medical Association's new chief on Monday.

While AMA President-elect Cecil B. Wilson acknowledged this afternoon that the bill still has its kinks, the top doctor stressed Democrats' manager's amendment has considerably strengthened their bill, which is on track to pass by Christmas Eve.

Wilson also said he believed lawmakers could address any remaining issues with the bill -- including its Medicare payment formula and proposed advisory board -- either during conference committee or shortly after it.

"Over the past few weeks, the AMA communicated closely with members of the Senate about items we support -- and items of concern -- in the Senate bill," Wilson said alongside Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)

"We are pleased that the manager's amendment addresses several issues," Wilson added. "For example, the bill increases payments to primary care physicians and general surgeons in under-served areas while no longer cutting payments to other physicians. It eliminates the tax on physician services for cosmetic surgey and drops the proposed physician enrollment fee for Medicare."

Ultimately, Wilson said Democrats still must address a few lingering problems with its proposed Medicare payment board. Additionally, the AMA president-elect suggested reminded Democrats they had to broach the subject of Medicare and Medicaid payments to doctors -- the so-called "doc fix" that has so far stalled in Congress. But Wilson nonetheless stressed the AMA supported Democrats' latest changes and was hoping for the entire bill's prompt passage.

After, Democratic leaders hailed Wilson and the AMA for their endorsement, which Harkin said was the "right diagnosis" on the bill.

"I suspect if you could have just one organization or group of people support this bill... I rate this one as the most important," Dodd subsequently said.

---