This is big news, and even the NY Times has a hard time spinning it as not a big blow to this terrible idea. The AMA may not be the power it used to be, but it is still the biggest, best known and most powerful organization of practicing doctors in the US, and when they say, this plan will interfere with our ability to care for patients, it's got to hurt. Especially given that polls show that is precisely what most people are worried about -- the effect such a plan would have on their own medical care, rationally enough.
Because the MSM is so in the bag and it's hard for bloggers to do the sort of reporting necessary, it is frustratingly hard to figure out what is going to happen. But between the fact that most people are deeply and quite rightly concerned about what will happen to their own medical care if this monster passes, and the its budget busting effects, I think its odds may be significantly less than 50/50. But who knows.
Interesting analysis of some political intricacies by Jay Cost.
Funny, I remember the AMA as the monopolist organization that has for decades contributed to rising healthcare costs by opposing increased med school openings and broadening of med care to include more nursing, chiropractic, naturopathic, osteopathic and alternative care. Too bad the AMA doesn't go head to head with the entire Obama medcare abortion so that they could eliminate each other.
Posted by: jimbino | June 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM
The doctors know how bad this will be for medicine - no more innovations, rationing of care, doctors and hospitals going broke,etc.
Posted by: krome | June 11, 2009 at 02:26 PM