Obama opens to applause at AMA - Chicago Sun-Times
Though many doctors and Republicans say Obama's health reforms would lead to "socialized medicine," 2,200 members of the American Medical Association rose to their feet in nine standing ovations for Obama Monday, clapped at all his applause lines and only booed him once.
That was when he said he opposed capping the amount of money juries can award in lawsuits against doctors.
"We were thrilled because this is the first Democratic president that has talked with us about any liability reform," said AMA president Nancy Nielsen. "We know first-hand that change is needed ... that the status quo isn't acceptable."
Nielsen and AMA president-elect James Rohack have been to the White House where Rohack told Obama, "Unless we have protection in a courtroom for not ordering a test, we're going to order those tests." Obama appeared receptive to their arguments, and he signaled that in his speech Monday, while not committing to specific tort reforms.
His plan to insure every American who wants to be insured could cost $1 trillion, but that's less than the cost of not doing it, Obama said, saying he would pay for it by reforming Medicaid and Medicare and cutting income tax breaks for the wealthy.
Telegraph.co.ukObama opens to applause at AMA“When you hear the naysayers claim that I'm trying to bring about government-run health care, know this — they are not telling the truth,” Obama said to applause. The doctors themselves have their fights with insurance companies and some of the Video: Doctors Weigh in on Obama Health Plan Obama to make reform pitch to AMA this morning Obama Pitches Health Care Overhaul, Calls Reform 'a Necessity' -
