The American Medical Association House of Delegates voted this morning to "support health system reform alternatives that are consistent with AMA principles of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of practice, and universal access for patients."
The vote follows several days of vigorous debate at the AMA, with President Obama's proposed public health plan serving as a lightning rod for opposition. Some physicians wanted the AMA to oppose a public plan outright, for fear that it would destroy private health insurance. A report in the Dallas Morning News said that Texas physicians had proposed excluding the term "public plan" from the final resolution, in an effort find middle ground. The final policy statement did not explicitly mention the public plan proposal.
MMS President Mario E. Motta, MD, said, "We had quite a boisterous and vigorous debate. In the end, the AMA came out in favor of being more than willing to sit down at the table, and work hard with others to help craft a better health care system. We're pleased with that result."
The AMA's immediate past president, Nancy Nielsen MD, echoed those sentiments at a news conference after the vote. "People did not want to close the door on alternatives," she said. "No doors were closed."
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