Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:41 PM Nov 2019

Industry Group Lying About Medicare For All Loses The American Medical Association

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2019, 03:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Purveyors of lies during the Obamacare fight, the American Medical Association has awakened to the barbaric immorality of our current system and begun to chart its own path. With a milestone of this magnitude in our rear-view mirror, I am more confident than ever that Medicare For All is our nation's destiny. Healthcare is a human right, except in the Land of the Free, founded on the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You can't exactly do that if you're dead or incapacitated by preventable (sometimes curable) diseases!

Winning Medicare for All Will Require Taking On Powerful Interests. Here’s How We Overcame One.


The American Medical Association’s decision to leave an industry-backed, anti-single payer group didn’t happen on its own. It was the result of dedicated organizing to make healthcare a human right.

BY CONNIE HUYNH
November 25, 2019

• [Full Text At Link]

The path to winning Medicare Care for All will be a case study of establishment forces doing all they can to detract, block and stave off progress.

With so many entities that profit immensely from our broken healthcare system, we will have to remove countless barriers along the way. The American Medical Association (AMA), a highly influential player in this debate, made a major move in August when it backed out of the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future (PAHCF), the lead industry group created to ensure Medicare for All does not become a reality.

As the movement toward Medicare for All gains steam, with presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren touting the proposal on the campaign trail, the mounting threat to insurance companies and Big Pharma is becoming more and more clear. The end of private insurance, or at least most forms of it, stands as an existential threat to the future of these obscenely profitable corporations.

They should be scared. Close to a majority of Democrats in the U.S. House are now co-sponsoring Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare for All bill. Healthcare has become a dominant issue in the 2020 Democratic primary. Medicare is one of the most popular programs in American history, and at a time when good jobs with guaranteed healthcare are hard to find, it makes sense that Americans want to expand it.


• [Full Text At Link]
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Industry Group Lying About Medicare For All Loses The American Medical Association (Original Post) corbettkroehler Nov 2019 OP
Even here, at DU, we regularly read horror stories about the supposed huge cost of single payer. guillaumeb Nov 2019 #1
Well Said, Friend! Your Perspective Is Most Welcome! corbettkroehler Nov 2019 #3
It is the only real solution. guillaumeb Nov 2019 #4
How Right You Are! #PeopleOverPharma corbettkroehler Nov 2019 #5
Why not break all the rich I_UndergroundPanther Nov 2019 #27
At one time the top MARGINAL rate was 91%. guillaumeb Nov 2019 #28
K n R ! Thanks for posting! JoeOtterbein Nov 2019 #2
Anyone notice the bombardment of "Medicare'' advertisement? YOHABLO Nov 2019 #6
That's Why M4All Is Almost To 50% Support In The U.S. House Democratic Caucus corbettkroehler Nov 2019 #9
Medicare for all versus Medicaid for all woundedkarma Nov 2019 #14
i have said it before. i just signed up for medicare. mopinko Dec 2019 #35
Oh I'm all in with Bernie's plan on Medicare. YOHABLO Nov 2019 #23
Medicare Advantage does NOT cover what Medicare doesn't. It's HMO or PPO policy $5k+ Out if Pocket OhNo-Really Nov 2019 #16
What are you doing for prescription drugs? Beartracks Nov 2019 #20
Are you on Medicare? It's a hell of a good deal KPN Nov 2019 #19
Medicare part B will have an $185.00 deductible. YOHABLO Nov 2019 #24
Yeah, so health insurance for less than $2000 KPN Dec 2019 #33
We won't have to buy those supplementals with MFA. nt Autumn Nov 2019 #22
I agree on this I_UndergroundPanther Nov 2019 #29
K/R appalachiablue Nov 2019 #7
Much of what people are arguing about is merely semantics.... and that's unfortunate groundloop Nov 2019 #8
I Love The Way You Put That - Your Perspective Is Most Welcome! corbettkroehler Nov 2019 #10
"They" always say, "Well, that's great but it wouldn't work in America." Beartracks Nov 2019 #21
Right, wouldn't work for the CEOs of big Pharma and United HC. YOHABLO Nov 2019 #25
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Nov 2019 #11
How we should all be handling this woundedkarma Nov 2019 #12
please provide a link to where AMA is now supporting M4A ?? (nt) stopdiggin Nov 2019 #13
It's in the OP OhNo-Really Nov 2019 #17
No. It is not. stopdiggin Nov 2019 #18
I Reported The Facts, Which Are That The AMA Wanted To Stop Endorsing The Lies, That's All corbettkroehler Dec 2019 #36
yes you did stopdiggin Dec 2019 #37
+1. AMA does not support MFA. They do support universal coverage (so physicians can reduce their Hoyt Nov 2019 #31
And, thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders' strong leadership efforts, momentum Doitnow Nov 2019 #15
Recommended democrank Nov 2019 #26
#fakenews ! stonecutter357 Nov 2019 #30
The AMA STILL OPPOSES MEDICARE FOR ALL, according to the article at The Hill your OP links to. highplainsdem Nov 2019 #32
"I stuffed their mouths with gold" - Nye Bevan Myrddin Dec 2019 #34
 

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
1. Even here, at DU, we regularly read horror stories about the supposed huge cost of single payer.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:45 PM
Nov 2019

The stories are nonsense, but we read them anyway.

A testament to the power of advertising, and its cousin, propaganda.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
3. Well Said, Friend! Your Perspective Is Most Welcome!
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:50 PM
Nov 2019

To everyone advocating for Medicare For All during the primary, I cry: Go, Single Payer, Go!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
4. It is the only real solution.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:51 PM
Nov 2019

Break the hold of the rich on the US healthcare system.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
5. How Right You Are! #PeopleOverPharma
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:56 PM
Nov 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,452 posts)
27. Why not break all the rich
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:16 PM
Nov 2019

Give them no loopholes tax them at 90% on assets and all income including off shore accounts, saving accounts,stocks,inheritance and luxury items. Give them no pity, peace or excuses.

Break the parasite pigs.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
28. At one time the top MARGINAL rate was 91%.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:18 PM
Nov 2019

And that alone made it very difficult to accumulate billions.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
6. Anyone notice the bombardment of "Medicare'' advertisement?
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 02:58 PM
Nov 2019

Of course you have, because it's ''enrollment time''. So what is it they're selling? Let's get this straight, it ain't Medicare. No it's Medicare Advantage. Ah, and it's a supplemental to take care of all the services that regular Medicare won't cover. Is that what we continue to want with M4A? I don't.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
9. That's Why M4All Is Almost To 50% Support In The U.S. House Democratic Caucus
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 03:34 PM
Nov 2019

Senator Sanders has made it abundantly clear that his legislation CORRECTS the current deficiencies in Medicare. Key among them:

• Create a Medicare for All, single-payer, national health insurance program to provide everyone in America with comprehensive health care coverage, free at the point of service.

• No networks, no premiums, no deductibles, no copays, no surprise bills.

• Medicare coverage will be expanded and improved to include: include dental, hearing, vision, and home- and community-based long-term care, in-patient and out-patient services, mental health and substance abuse treatment, reproductive and maternity care, prescription drugs, and more.

• Stop the pharmaceutical industry from ripping off the American people by making sure that no one in America pays over $200 a year for the medicine they need by capping what Americans pay for prescription drugs under Medicare for All.


[Read more on his official campaign site]

[Read his Senate Bill on the official Library Of Congress site]
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

woundedkarma

(498 posts)
14. Medicare for all versus Medicaid for all
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 04:43 PM
Nov 2019

I hadn't heard that before. Nice to see.

I think the phrasing of it has been terrible. It should have been medicaid for all. Those of us who know the difference know that medicare for all as it stands instead of medicaid for all as it stands would be a horrible scam.

Medicaid is the one that covers everything for poor people and the disabled. Medicare is the way we screw the elderly.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

mopinko

(69,812 posts)
35. i have said it before. i just signed up for medicare.
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 11:28 AM
Dec 2019

i had a roommate for a while that was on medicaid here in illinois, and her coverage, tho she had to sift through her options to figure out which plan to sign up for, it was much easier than navigating medicare. she got really good coverage, including a new hip that cost her almost bupkis.

i signed up for a supplemental mostly to get out of dealing direct w medicare, and to make sure i had choice of docs. but damn, sorting through that shit hurt my brains.
and it hurt my brain to know that all this crap was because pols were trying to chip away at it, or tilt the playing field for their friends.
this is that part about single payer that makes me very nervous.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
23. Oh I'm all in with Bernie's plan on Medicare.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 09:49 PM
Nov 2019

But how would we get it through Congress?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

OhNo-Really

(3,985 posts)
16. Medicare Advantage does NOT cover what Medicare doesn't. It's HMO or PPO policy $5k+ Out if Pocket
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 05:12 PM
Nov 2019

In my area OptumCare (a division of OptumHealth, both owned by United Health Care) stinks. Headache finding docs in-network & covered, then calling them to see if they still accept my plan because it takes OptumCare 9 months to pay the providers.

I dropped the AARP United Health Care Medicare Advantage and returned to Traditional Medicare so I can see the docs I prefer & use the hospitals nearest to me. Also, lower co-pays and a $198 deductible instead of $5,000

Should be called Medicare Disadvantage in my area. Avoid OptumCare,United uses this in a few states. I think it’s a kiting scam

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Beartracks

(12,761 posts)
20. What are you doing for prescription drugs?
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 05:48 PM
Nov 2019

I know someone who uses AARP United Health Care Medicare Advantage, and it seems "okay." Fortunately, their spouse is still working so she has two insurances, which generally means she never has any out of pocket costs (copays and such) -- except for one of her doctors who does steroid injections. He's the only doc that doesn't take the AARP/UH plan, but he WOULD take "regular" Medicare. So she has considered going to "regular" Medicare to ensure that these procedures get fully covered by both insurances, but she's not sure what that's going to do for her other docs and her prescriptions (of which there are many). Her big question is: would the savings she enjoys by getting the injections fully covered be more than eaten up by an increase in all the other copays and prescription costs? She doesn't know which way to go.

Sorry, I guess that's not really the same question as in my post title. LOL I would be interested to hear in more detail what your experience has been in terms of costs when switching back to regular ol' Medicare.

===============

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

KPN

(15,587 posts)
19. Are you on Medicare? It's a hell of a good deal
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 05:48 PM
Nov 2019

from my experience. By the way, Medicare does cover just about everything via its various parts; Part B and D primarily. The premium are cheap (relative to private insurance plans especially). Medicate Advantage is essentially privatized Medicare in which you sign up for all the parts (B, C and D) that you can otherwise purchase directly from Medicare.

Here’s the thing — you are already paying for Medicare Part A via the 1.4 percent taken out of your paycheck. The other Parts are relatively cheap.

Medicare with all its parts is still cheaper with better benefits than anything else I can find ... and i’ve done a lot of looking and figuring.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
24. Medicare part B will have an $185.00 deductible.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 09:53 PM
Nov 2019

Also a $135.00 premium. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

KPN

(15,587 posts)
33. Yeah, so health insurance for less than $2000
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 01:55 AM
Dec 2019

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2019, 02:42 AM - Edit history (1)

per year. Are you complaining about that? You could pass on Part B and purchase Medicare Advantage instead. Or shill out another couple thousand and get virtually 100% coverage via a supplemental plan in addition to Part B — so $4000 fore. no out of pocket. Yeah, that’s a lot of money on a modest budget, but it sure beats other alternatives currently available.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Autumn

(44,765 posts)
22. We won't have to buy those supplementals with MFA. nt
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 07:03 PM
Nov 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,452 posts)
29. I agree on this
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:18 PM
Nov 2019

Universal single payer is the best way.fuck those who let fear and propaganda win.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

groundloop

(11,488 posts)
8. Much of what people are arguing about is merely semantics.... and that's unfortunate
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 03:26 PM
Nov 2019

I don't care what we call it, Medicare for All, Single Payer, whatever, our for-profit medical insurance has us at a severe disadvantage to countries who see good healthcare as a right and not a privilege.

To anyone who says we can't afford 'IT' I call bullshit. Just look at how much less citizens in other countries pay for healthcare and how much better their outcomes are.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
10. I Love The Way You Put That - Your Perspective Is Most Welcome!
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 03:35 PM
Nov 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Beartracks

(12,761 posts)
21. "They" always say, "Well, that's great but it wouldn't work in America."
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 05:51 PM
Nov 2019

Wouldn't work for WHOM, exactly?

==============

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
25. Right, wouldn't work for the CEOs of big Pharma and United HC.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:09 PM
Nov 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Uncle Joe

(58,112 posts)
11. Kicked and recommended.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 03:49 PM
Nov 2019

Thanks for the thread corbettkroehler.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

woundedkarma

(498 posts)
12. How we should all be handling this
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 04:39 PM
Nov 2019

Instead of talking about how this will hurt insurance companies or help families...

We should be talking about how much every corporation that ISN"T part of the insurance industry will save per year.

See how fast we get medicare/medicaid for all then.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

stopdiggin

(11,095 posts)
13. please provide a link to where AMA is now supporting M4A ?? (nt)
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 04:42 PM
Nov 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

stopdiggin

(11,095 posts)
18. No. It is not.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 05:25 PM
Nov 2019

The article reads:

While we didn’t win, the result was close: 47% of delegates voted to adopt the resolution to stop opposing single-payer—the strongest show of support for universal healthcare in the AMA’s history.

Didn't even get a majority vote to "stop opposing."
To be crystal clear, the AMA has not endorsed M4A
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

corbettkroehler

(1,898 posts)
36. I Reported The Facts, Which Are That The AMA Wanted To Stop Endorsing The Lies, That's All
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 02:52 PM
Dec 2019

Once we clear the primaries, though, I am convinced that the AMA will endorse M4A.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

stopdiggin

(11,095 posts)
37. yes you did
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 03:19 PM
Dec 2019

and I have no argument with that (I responded to another poster that was making overreaching claims)

I think your optimism about an outright endorsement is unlikely (but it wouldn't bother me at all to be wrong on this one) .. but it's obvious that the work done to change the AMA position THIS far is effective and bearing fruit. NOT to be ignored or underestimated. Good work!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
31. +1. AMA does not support MFA. They do support universal coverage (so physicians can reduce their
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:33 PM
Nov 2019

bad debt, when you cut through all the BS).

But the OP withdrawal is simply acknowledging they'd be better off not explicitly siding with Health Insurance industry, which AMA has hated for years -- industry has cost them money by cutting rates closer and closer to Medicare, promoted utilization and quality standards, etc.

If some candidate were promoting MFA -- with payment rates for docs 150% of current Medicare rates, the AMA would be all over that. I bet. But, they'd fight until the end if it's MFA at current Medicare rates or lower, with tougher utilization and quality standards.

But withdrawing is a good sign for us -- whether one supports MFA or a Public Option -- but it's hardly a big victory.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Doitnow

(1,103 posts)
15. And, thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders' strong leadership efforts, momentum
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 04:45 PM
Nov 2019

has propelled this issue into the forefront of today's major issues.

Go, Bernie!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

highplainsdem

(48,732 posts)
32. The AMA STILL OPPOSES MEDICARE FOR ALL, according to the article at The Hill your OP links to.
Sat Nov 30, 2019, 10:40 PM
Nov 2019

That's the text link in the second paragraph in your excerpt, which goes to this article at The Hill:

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/457619-american-medical-association-drops-out-of-anti-medicare-for-all-coalition


The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s main group for doctors, announced Thursday that it is leaving a coalition fighting "Medicare for All," a blow to the industry’s efforts to push back on the progressive proposal.

The AMA said it is leaving the industry group called the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, which has been running ads against Medicare for All and public option proposals from the leading Democratic candidates for president.

However, the doctors group’s CEO, Dr. James Madara, said in a statement that the AMA still opposes Medicare for All. It just wants to focus its energies on advocating for solutions, such as improving ObamaCare by making its subsidies for helping people afford coverage more generous.

“The American Medical Association (AMA) firmly believes that the best pathway to expand affordable, high quality health insurance coverage to all Americans is through a mix of private and public health insurance options,” Madara said in a statement. “We remain opposed to Medicare for All, and policies that reduce patient choice and competition, and are built on flawed financing policies.”


-snip-



Emphasis added.

Sounds to me as if they dropped out of that industry group because the group was also running ads against the public option.

But thee AMA still opposes MFA.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Myrddin

(327 posts)
34. "I stuffed their mouths with gold" - Nye Bevan
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 10:49 AM
Dec 2019
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneurin_Bevan

The collective principle asserts that ... no society can legitimately call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means.
—?Aneurin Bevan, In Place of Fear, p. 100

On the 'appointed day', 5 July 1948, Bevan's National Health Service Act 1946 came into force. On the day, Bevan attended a ceremony at the Park Hospital, Trafford (now Trafford General), at which he symbolically received the keys to the hospital.[63] The scheme was achieved having overcome political opposition from both the Conservative Party and from within his own party. Confrontation with the British Medical Association (BMA) was led by Charles Hill, who published a letter in the British Medical Journal describing Bevan as "a complete and uncontrolled dictator". Members of the BMA had dubbed him the "Tito of Tonypandy".[47][64] They threatened to derail the National Health Service scheme before it had even begun, as medical practitioners continued to withhold their support just months before the launch of the service. After eighteen months of ongoing dispute between the Ministry of Health and the BMA, Bevan finally managed to win over the support of the vast majority of the medical profession by offering a couple of minor concessions, including allowing consultants to keep their own private practices, but without compromising the fundamental principles of his National Health Service proposals. Bevan later gave the famous quote that, to broker the deal, "I stuffed their mouths with gold".
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»Industry Group Lying Abou...