American Medical Association Comes Out Against Senate O’care Repeal Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Ky. listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. Try as they may, there's no sign that conservatives chirping over the departure of H... Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Ky. listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. Try as they may, there's no sign that conservatives chirping over the departure of House Speaker John Boehner will be able to claim Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as their next pelt. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) MORE LESS
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The American Medical Association, the largest advocacy group for doctors in the United States, on Monday announced its opposition to the Senate’s bill to replace Obamacare.

“Medicine has long operated under the precept of Primum non nocere, or ‘first, do no harm.’ The draft legislation violates that standard on many levels,” James Madara, AMA’s CEO, wrote in a letter to Senate leaders.

Madara wrote that provisions in the Senate’s draft legislation, like less generous subsidies and broader waivers for states, “will expose low and middle income patients to higher costs and greater difficulty in affording care.” The group is also concerned about the deep cuts to Medicaid that the Senate’s draft bill imposes.

“We sincerely hope that the Senate will take this opportunity to change the course of the current debate and work to fix problems with the current system. We believe that Congress should be working to increase the number of Americans with access to quality, affordable health insurance instead of pursuing policies that have the opposite effect, and we renew our commitment to work with you in that endeavor,” Madara concluded in the letter.

Read the letter:

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Notable Replies

  1. The American Medical Association seems to have the impression that this tax cut healthcare bill is about healthcare.

    That’s cute.

  2. As usual, the AMA put out a last-minute tepid statement. Wouldn’t want to upset their overlords or run the risk of the GOP being mad at them. Trump might tweet something nasty.

    So thanks - but where were you during the debate?

  3. What debate?

  4. Blah, blah, blah. Unless their opposition means they will no longer contribute to the campaigns of the repeal supports, they’re just putting on a PR show exactly like Johnson, Paul, Collins and the others.

    Money is the only thing they care about. None of them fear the voters.

  5. McConnell added "Medicine, schmedicine! Science, schmience!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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