AMA, Doctors Not Seeing Eye to Eye

" Association came out in favor yesterday of the house democrats' health care reform bill and that news broke the president rushed to the White House briefing room to -- their support. The final proof that the AMA does not really represent real doctors out there are many of whom are also businessman. Business women's soccer again NYU professor -- contributor doctor Marc Siegel you know it's easy to digest the most -- this evening to meet doctor was that. -- you know Pelosi let's put a five point 4% surtax. On people making more than 500000 here -- imagine a good part of that group is probably doctors is this. The -- it may not regarding these sort of individual financial interest of its membership."

" There is no question about that -- the AMA is not on behalf of real practicing doctors are but let me tell you a little bit about what their motivation really years. It's a faustian deal they're making because 3962. The bill that's before the house right now. Is accompanied by a separate bill known as 3961. Which is really the doctors fix basically that bill. Would roll back the sustained growth everywhere every year congress does this is what it should cost and then when it comes in this is what it does cost. And doctors pay the difference in other words if if the amount that doctors getting reimbursement. Is larger than anticipated we get a cut this year that cut is going to be 21%. Which is enormous the most Al Gore the AMA fights that every year and usually gets it -- they're doing for their own reasons they want to get. That off the books that 3961. Bill would be a permanent fix but they can't seem to get it into the main bill which is why I'm calling it a faustian deal what's going to happen in the end and some bill won't pass the AMA will go under the bus like the -- could it -- if they get. Well let's say the first what passes and in the and they get this second bill. With what you -- discussing would that be good -- it would be good for the damage still undergo a productive I want to point out it didn't happen in the Senate the senator got voted down I expected to get voted down in the house because while it's not good for doctors. Because what practicing physicians look at. Is what Hillary reimbursement rates how much regulation that we have the public option you know more regulation to insurance companies means more paperwork for us it means lower reimbursements. It -- seeing more and more patients in a shorter amount of time I guarantee the head of the AMA isn't thinking like that. But in my office the last thing I need and those like me is more and more patience -- they get paid less and less for have to pull out more and more forms."

" And -- with a private -- almost -- there's that I mean what does that two bit and anything how many years of school did you do you know what 89 years of residency hundreds of thousands in debt. You wonder if and I understand we need to get everybody with some kind of medical coverage. But at the same point you you wonder if congress realize because most people congress are lawyers they're not doctors. They want."

" If they're going to remove a major incentive for people wanted to conduct no question the brand that's a great point we have huge loans to pay back and by the way. I don't know if the -- here is actually read -- Bernard 62 -- things like. Health choices commissioner an advisory committee's idea health choices commissioner in Washington. To tell me what's good quality of camp. That's between me and my patient it's on a one by one basis it cannot be regulated by -- it would no matter what people so we all know that with -- government. -- money is going to come government oversight and control. And that's not good for medicine it is not good for the art of medicine it will lead to the art of medicine become extinct I'm very worried about that the -- and they ought to be also. I dropped out of my membership and I'm not alone you know."

" I was I was -- insurance executive vote at an event last night he was saying really. The biggest problem is -- for the OB -- and there among the lowest paid yet though by far away according to him because he does medical insurance. By far away the highest medical malpractice lawsuits people are obviously very sense about their children and about about their. You know about their their future with with their kids. And -- he said Brian I can foresee a situation where we run out you know OBG white hands in the next forty hours at a you know the -- way noise entering the practice."

" So true -- the AMA represents specialists -- I -- are paying over a 100000 dollars a year many of them in malpractice insurance. And that's what he does house saying to the highest and also the most soon. You know what should go to get anything goes wrong with a birth even if they didn't make a mistake how can the American Medical Association backed any bill that doesn't have tort reform involvement. Frivolous lawsuits. Caps pain and suffering loser pays all of the tort issues are not being addressed and not on the table because the -- lobby is one of the biggest spenders in congress well sure it's a hub and admitting -- cynical and I would say that doctor or -- would. Suggest and I would -- They -- much doctor marks it."