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AMA Affirms Support for Individual Mandate
Wilson then had harsh words for people who can afford health insurance but don't buy it, "who then arrive in the emergency room having fallen off of their motorcycle – and they did not wear a helmet – and they end up with major life-threatening injuries, the treatment for which very few people could afford.
"And the result of that is that all of pay for that, private as well as taxpayers...
Those people, he said, cause those who have health coverage to pay premiums that are "$1,000 a year more than they otherwise would be."
The reaffirmation vote includes a stipulation that for individuals and families who cannot afford health coverage, there would be government tax subsidies or credits inversely proportional to the person or family's income.
Asked if the AMA might file an amicus brief in support of the Obama administration's fight to block challenges, Wilson said he didn't think so.
"Our posture related to this is that this will wind its way through the courts, and the Supreme Court will make that decision and we will leave that to the court to make that decision."
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Comments are moderated. Please be patient.
Douglas Malie (6/21/2011 at 2:23 PM)
I applaud the AMA for being pragmatic instead of political. Anyone who understands risk, probabilities and statistics understands why the individual mandate is absolutely necessary unless this country would prefer socialized medicine. As a practice administrator for large single specialty practices I have had to write off hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in uncompensated care because of bad debt associated with uninsured patients. Sometimes its unfortunate that government intervention is necessary when we can't depend on people to do the right thing.
sharbaugh (6/21/2011 at 10:56 AM)
This is no suprise to anyone. The AMA is nothing more than another hack organization just like the AFL-CIO, UAW, etc. that just looks out for their own interests and nothing else. Hey AMA: does it not concern you one bit that the individual mandate runs completely counter to the Bill of Rights, or is that a non-issue to you????
Patrick Plemmons (6/21/2011 at 10:48 AM)
Dr. Wilson demonstrates conclusively that you don't have to be intelligent to be a physician. He supports the federal government ordering private citizens to buy a product because, if he doesn't, he worries it could lead to a government run healthcare system. What? What does he think Obamacare is if not the first giant step to a government run health plan? What a sad day for physicians in America.