AMA Reaction to President Obama's Address on Health-System Reform

Statement attributable to: J. James Rohack, M.D. President, American Medical
Association

Physicians Agree that Medical Liability Reform is Needed

CHICAGO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "It is clear that the status quo
is unacceptable. The AMA will continue to work for reform that makes the
system work better for patients and physicians. We must seize this opportunity
this year to achieve meaningful health reform for America's patients and
physicians.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081209/AMALOGO )

"The President outlined three essential goals that are vital to reform efforts
in this country, including: ensuring the current system remains secure and
stable for those who already have insurance coverage and are happy with it;
making insurance coverage affordable and accessible to those who need it; and
reducing unnecessary costs and waste in the current system.

"The AMA believes these core goals are ones that the majority of the American
people can and do support, and we urge Congress to find common ground in
achieving them.

"President Obama recognized what physicians have long known - that medical
liability reform is needed to bring down the cost of health care, and he is
directing the Department of Health and Human Services to take action now.
Recognizing the critical need for medical liability reform is an important
step toward reducing unnecessary costs. Everyday physicians across the country
are forced to consider the broken medical liability system when making
decisions, resulting in defensive medicine that adds to unnecessary health
costs. We cannot ignore this problem if health-system reform is going to
address the growing cost of care.

"Just yesterday, the AMA sent a letter to President Obama and Congress urging
them to reach agreement on health reform that includes seven critical
elements. Health coverage for all Americans, insurance market reforms that
expand choice and eliminate denials for pre-existing conditions, assurance
that medical decisions will remain between the patient and physician, medical
liability reforms to reduce the cost of defensive medicine, and repeal of the
broken Medicare physicians payment formula that threatens seniors' access to
care are among them.

"We have a historic opportunity to implement needed reforms to address
shortcomings in the current system, while keeping in tact all that is working
well. We will stay constructively engaged in the legislative process to ensure
the final bill improves the health system for patients and the dedicated
physicians who care for them."

SOURCE American Medical Association

Leah Dudowicz of AMA Media Relations, +1-312-464-4813,
leah.dudowicz@ama-assn.org, of American Medical Association