AMA to Charleston Gazette: Warner health-care column misleads

West Virginia Charleston Gazette
Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

John Warner's vitriolic column, "Corrupt Path: Health care system does not belong in the marketplace" is laced with misleading assumptions about the American Medical Association, the nation's premiere physician organization. On behalf of our physician members, who have dedicated their life's work to healing. I'd like to set the record straight about the AMA's work on behalf of America's patients and the physicians who care for them.

The new AMA is leading the charge to reduce the ranks of the uninsured through our Voice for the Uninsured campaign. Our ultimate goal is legislative action to cover the uninsured, and we're reaching out to voters, members of Congress, and presidential candidates with our proposal to make that a reality. Interested readers can learn more about the AMA campaign and sign our petition in support of reform at www.VoiceForTheUninsured.com

We're actively working to improve the quality of patient care through the development of quality measures that any physician can use free of charge, and improving patient safety through the Making Strides in Safety® program, which provides physicians with patient safety materials and point-of-care tools.

The AMA is a vocal advocate for preserving seniors' access to care, and has joined forces with AARP to support congressional action to replace Medicare cuts to physicians with payment updates that help cover increasing practice costs, limit premium increases for seniors, and help low-income seniors with their out-of-pocket health care costs.

While it's easier to sit on the sidelines and take potshots at those laboring to make a difference, the AMA is doing the heavy lifting – working hard everyday through public health and advocacy outreach to improve the health of Americans.

Sincerely,

Edward Langston, MD
Board Chair, American Medical Association