“REFORM” OF HEALTH“CARE?” WHY I RESIGNED FROM THE AMA (American Medical Association)
By Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. © July 21, 2009
DISCLAIMER: Dr. Vliet speaks as an independent physician, not as an official spokesperson for any organization. Dr. Vliet has no financial ties to any health care system, pharmaceutical company, or health insurance plan. Her allegiance and advocacy is to and for patients.
Today I learned that the AMA has issued an “unqualified endorsement” of the House Bill for health insurance overhaul. In my opinion, the AMA has sold out doctors, and most importantly, our patients, in supporting this government take over of our most private and personal freedom – our choices about when, where, and with whom we will have medical care when we are sick.
As a protest against their support of the House Health”care” Bill, I have resigned from the AMA after nearly thirty years of membership.
Health “care” is a misnomer these days. It is more aptly called health “business” or services or insurance or policy. “Care” seems to have gone the way of the Dodo bird…every stakeholder in the game is looking out for their bottom line. Few seem to be looking out for patients. And reform? That’s not accurate either. What’s happening is a massive government “take-over” of all of your choices for your medical services.
In the current widespread concern about the health “care” proposals being pushed through Congress at the rate of a speeding bullet (and in my view, just as deadly), my patients have said to me over and over, “Can’t the AMA stop this government take over of our choices in medical services?” “Please write the AMA, they can help us!” Sadly, the AMA is not on the side of patients, or doctors either, for that matter when it endorses government run health care that outlaws private options. Surprisingly, only about one-third of the physicians in the United States are AMA members.
I used to think the American Medical Association, which I joined soon after graduating from medical school, was the “gold standard” of ethical guidelines for the practice of medicine dedicated to the care of patients. But the AMA as it functions now doesn’t really represent doctors or patients – it is in the business of medicine. Turns out the AMA is a gold mine, not a gold standard as I thought.
For example, one of its hugely profitable businesses is overseeing and selling the Coding Manuals doctors use to determine the insurance billing codes for procedures. It is so lucrative because they change the codes each year, and every doctor and hospital in the country has to buy new coding manuals and new computer software to use them or they can’t get reimbursements from insurance companies! The AMA wants to retain its revenues from its various businesses and data services, so it gave in and endorsed the House health “reform” bill. This “business” of medicine has co-opted the very values for which I originally joined the AMA.
I am only one doctor, and my membership fee makes little difference to such a massive organization. But the AMA endorsement of this take over of our health care system was the final straw. I no longer want to be a part of a professional group that has betrayed the people I care the most about, my patients.
Statistics from other countries with government run health systems make it clear how patients will be harmed under Washington’s draconian proposals. The House Bill clearly shows the big lie of the 2008 Democratic campaign promises: “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.”
The 2009 House Bill specifically has a provision (see page 16) that would outlaw individual private health insurance coverage. Other proposals carry heavy financial or tax penalties for those who keep private insurance – if you can even buy it at all. The House Bill has specific language stating that no more new private policies can be written after the government plan “option” becomes law. That is a truly staggering violation of your freedom to choose your health care options for you and your family.
Most people will simply not have a “choice” about being in the “public” (meaning government run) plan. Various experts have estimated that 120 million Americans will lose their private insurance coverage as employers cut costs and send employees to the government plan that is 30-40% cheaper because taxpayers are providing the cost subsidies. Within two years, the private insurance market won’t have enough customers left to keep it alive. Another “dodo bird”…Extinct.
In order to pay for bringing more people into “free” care, Washington is already proposing 400-600 billion in further cuts for Medicare and Medicaid services. There is no way humanly possible that such massive dollar cuts can avoid causing long delays for access to care, rationing of services, and outright denial of certain treatments.
This is not just my personal opinion, nor is it hyperbole, as Democrats claim.
Rationing and denial of care are facts based on well-documented experiences of every country that has already been down this road of government controlling health insurance and access to medical services. Reams of published reports document these problems.
This House Bill will destroy excellence in American medical services as it substitutes committee decisions for private decision-making between patients and doctors.
As the government begins to further cut costs by denying and rationing medical services, we will see the outright harm to patients that British and Canadians patients have suffered for decades under their government owned health systems. Patients United Now, a grassroots patient advocacy organization, has many excellent videos of real people sharing stories about these problems.
Make no bones about it, governments always reduce costs by rationing your medical care. How? Examples from Canada and Britain abound: Bureaucrats in Canada and Britain prohibit use of new medicines that “cost too much.” Britain denies mammograms after age 70, dialysis after age 50, and Paps are only done after age 25. In Canada waits of 18-24 month for hip surgery are typical.
Even more alarming, I received this information from Arizona Congressman John Shadegg:
“Tonight, July 20th, in the Commerce Committee markup of the Democrats’ Health Care bill the Democrats passionately argued against a simple amendment that would have prevented federal employees from ‘dictating how a medical provider practices medicine.’
Here is the actual text of the amendment the Democrats rejected:
” (k) Construction.- Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any federal employee or political appointee to dictate how a medical provider practices medicine.”
Democrats defeated this amendment! If you want your doctor to be able to practice medicine without being told how to do so by a federal employee, I urge you to get involved in this debate NOW!
Don’t just communicate with your friends, family and members of Congress. Call your doctor today! Demand to know:
1) Is he or she a member of the AMA, which has come out in support of the bill?
2) Is he or she aware that Democrats rejected this simple amendment?
3) Do they agree a federal bureaucrat should be able to tell them how to “practice medicine?”
4) Have they spoken out in opposition to this outrageous bill?
5) Are they telling their patients they oppose the bill?”
The defeated Amendment means that the House health “care” bill will be in violation of the Hippocratic Oath every doctor takes when graduating from medical school, that says in part:
I SWEAR… that, according to my ability and judgment…I will keep this Oath and stipulation…I will follow that method of treatment which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.
In my view, it is “deleterious and mischievous” – and possibly deadly, to withhold care because a government bureaucrat has decided I cannot provide it because a person is “too old,” “too sick,” “too infirm” to be worth the cost.
Do you really want the government telling you what you can and cannot have for medical treatment if you are sick? For all its flaws, wouldn’t you rather have the right to choose your doctor, your hospital, your type of treatment, and what type of health insurance best meets your needs?
Now is the time to speak out if you value your personal freedom. Contact your legislators and let them know you don’t want the government coming between you and your doctor. It may be the last chance to keep your choice.
For more information, I suggest two independent patient advocate Web sites on healthcare: www.JoinPatientsFirst.com, www.PatientsUnitedNow.com
© Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. July 21, 2009
Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. is a women’s health specialist who received her M.D. degree and internship in Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, then completed specialty training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She received B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Dr. Vliet is the 2007 recipient of The Voice of Women award from the Arizona Foundation for Women in recognition of her pioneering advocacy for the overlooked hormone connections in women’s health. Dr. Vliet’s books include: It’s My Ovaries, Stupid!; Screaming To Be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect– And Doctors STILL Ignore; Women, Weight and Hormones; The Savvy Woman’s Guide to PCOS. Dr. Vliet is a seasoned expert commentator and a passionate fighter against government takeover of health care in the proposed Health Care “Reform” that seeks to eliminate or penalize private options. For more information, Dr. Vliet suggests two independent patient advocate Web sites on healthcare: www.JoinPatientsNow.com, and www.PatientsUnitedNow.com
DISCLAIMER: Dr. Vliet speaks as an independent physician, not as an official spokesperson for any organization. Dr. Vliet has no financial ties to any health care system, pharmaceutical company, or health insurance plan. Her allegiance and advocacy is to and for patients.
To book Dr. Vliet on interviews, or for permission to publish, email Rose Henning rosehenning@herplace.com or call 520-797-9131 (MST).
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This is the most mis-represented piece of information I have ever read from Dr. Vliet. The Obama Admin. is not trying to take over healthcare! This passage of the Health Care Bill is just great in my opinion. My daughter, age 26, was laid off from her job approx. 7 months ago & with the lay-off, she lost her health Insurance. So for Dr. Vliet to sinply be against healthcare reform for all the wrong reasons really disappoints me. I, for one & many of my family & friends think the passage of this History Making Bill is just what the USA needed!
OH and by the way kathy…government employees pay as much or more for their insurance than do private citizens who work for large corporations. I paid little to Nothing when I worked in the private industry (Insurance). The company paid for it. Or well I guess they passed that cost along to our customers. In Government we pay almost as much for our premiums as our employer. The perk is that we get choices. My self employed parents do not. If they were allowed to join with us and choose which company and which plan they might be able to afford insurance. And the Insurance companies would get more money and just Maybe be able to pay doctors and hospitals more.
I got to this page after reading about Dr.Vliet’s work concerning FMS/Thyroid. I was excited to see she is doing this work. But I am disappointed in her reaction to healthcare for all. I am a federal employee and my premiums have increased almost 100% in the last 20 years. Why? Because the cost of drugs and medical treatment has gone up just about that much. Funny how we are at our peak of population and business is booming that prices should go up??? Insurance Companies never make any money from people like me. But without their (tiresome) intervention i could not afford the medical care i do receive. I get to choose from a list of insurance companies who compete for our business. I can also see any doctor I can afford to see (fat chance) if I choose. If everyone in the US had to have health insurance (like car insurance) The prices of premiums should drop. And the price of healthcare should also because people would not wait until they are critically or chronically ill. Whatever happens…THE PEOPLE should decide. And right now it seems they are ready for affordable healthcare.
I say let the government Reimburse doctors that graduate from medical school. And any extra degrees, or training they receive. And teach them to care about patients more than $$$. I’m sorry but it irks me when my doctor can only give me 15 min. and checks his iphone while i’m trying to remind him who i am. This is called “turn em and burn em”. Because this group is rebelling against the insurance company telling them that $150. for 15 min is too much. I know professors and scientists and politicians that don’t make that much.
I am planning to see Dr Vliet because she sounds like she cares and knows more about my conditions. But I’ll be surprised if she takes my insurance. And if not sadly I will not be able to afford to see her. Oh and she’ll be the 7th doctor THIS YEAR that i will see …as so far I’ve not found one who takes BlueCross BlueShield who gives a damn. I’d love to take the insurance and drug kingpins out of the mix and get back to healthcare of the people,by the people and For the people. NOT the Doctors,Insurance Companies or Pharmacutical Companies. HEALTHCARE IS A MORAL ISSUE…there should be no debate about Who gets it and Who doesn’t. Greed has brought this to the table. As it has in the whole financial debacle. I don’t want Big Government either…But you sure can’t trust Big Business. Find out who are the GREEDY in government and VOTE them out. Find out who pays CEO’s millions and lays off workers with little warning and Write to them and VOTE AGAINST THEM with your dollars. The time for BIG anything is gone. They had it and they blew it.
thank you for standing up for patient rights and the american people….this government is out of control…if the plan is so great why don’t all the gov official and the president be first in line for it??could it be they don’t want to give up their free care which we pay for??
Sermo, Ha! That’s a joke, right? Sermo is the medical profession’s equivalent of Al Sharpton: Popping up when convenient to take a jab at the AMA.
why did you stay with the AMA lady you are a joke
“excellence in American medical service”?
Are all you people nuts?
If you don’t have insurance like “us” stay out of the fight because you don’t get it.
“excellence in American medical service”?
I can’t believe you wrote that.
You are on the other side of the issue.
Fight the insurance company just once then remove “excellent” from your statement.
This is about big insurance and big pharma.
They have written the rules for too long.
Doctors are forced to represent them in order to have a working practice.
This is a right wing game being played on us. If we had real leadership in the last eight years this fight wouldn’t have made it this far.
This was all the neocon positioning and power plays lead to.
Don’t hate the Dems, you gave them this power and popularity.
PS. I voted for Ron Paul. The right wing nuts are just that. They had their time, they blew it.
Now get out of peoples way!
[...] to resign from the AMA. I have personally heard of many people doing just that. This woman, a Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, posted an editorial on why she quit the organization. Specialists have leaving in droves for [...]
Elizabeth,
What a wonderful article which clearly states what most of us in medicine feel. I feel it is our ethical duty to protect our ability to provide quality care to patients, and we must do whatever we can to fight threats to that.
The House health bill HR 3200 as well as the AMA’s endorsement are threats to patients and the practice of medicine.
I’m not sure if you’re a member of Sermo or not (Sermo.com), but take a look…I think you’ll like what you see.
Thank you for speaking so eloquently for us.
Justin
Justin Grady Matrisciano MD
Partner-Long Island Diabetes & Endocrinology Associates, LLP
“Dr. Grady” – CartoonMD.com
Here is the Link to thehttp://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10466/hr2920.pdf CBO:
Our Doctors are to busy chasing the illusion of the Americam Dream. If we could all have the same plan as Congress, it would be Good, but of course they are better than us. THEY WORK FOR US. We pay for them now, we are about to pay for everyone else. The CBO announced an amendment to H.R.2920- the pay as you go law, which has allready been signed into law. This allows the admin. to hide reductions in medicare, (21% in 2009) payments to DOCTOR’S this year. That way by making up numbers, the admin. can hide the huge increases to the deficit. This would be criminal in the private sector, but is status quo in our transparent government. If yo don’t like the numbers, hide them from the American people. Go to CBO.gov, and read about the “Transparent Accounting Principles”. Our government is controlled by The Federal Reserve, a private corporation, and a few large banks, J.P Morgan, Goldman Sachs. It has been like this since 1913, Of course we are not taught this in school. OBAMA is a puppet to our money changers. We need to wake up, abolish The UNFEDERAL RESERVE, and take back the American dream.
I am 70 years old and on social security. This administration has already eliminated the social security cost of living increase until 2013. Now they plan to force me to join their program or face a fine. The program considers me too old to care for but I’m not too old to make a stand. I will not join their program and I will NOT pay the fine.