AMA Patients' Action Network

AMA’s Patients' Action Network

Enacting health system reform that provides coverage and high-quality, affordable health care is a top priority for the American Medical Association (AMA). We need your help to make it a priority for Congress. Tell Congress the status quo is unacceptable.

We have the best health care in the world, but the system is broken:

47 million uninsured people live sicker and die younger—and their ranks are growing every day.
Physicians and patients have to fight with insurers to approve treatment—and then fight again for payment.
Dedicated physicians are driven from the profession by the burdens of bureaucracy, astronomical medical liability premiums, and payments that fail to cover practice costs.

The letter below will be sent on your behalf to targeted legislators when you complete the registration form and click “Take Action”:

The need for health reform that provides coverage and high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans is clear. Rising health care costs strain budgets for individuals, businesses and governments, and patients need insurance coverage they can count on.

Sometimes the task seems daunting, especially when you know that there are 47 million uninsured people in our country, and their ranks are growing every day that patients and their doctors have to fight with insurers to approve treatment, and then fight again for payment; and that dedicated doctors are driven from the profession by the burdens of bureaucracy, astronomical medical liability premiums and payments that fail to cover practice costs.

But what must not get lost in the current debate is that almost everyone agrees reforms are needed. We need to work toward consensus around the considerable common ground that exists and re-commit to resolving the differences.

As you consider the health reform legislation that will be presented to you, please keep real health reforms in mind. We need reforms that will:

1. Maintain the relationship between patients and their doctors;
2. Expand coverage to all Americans through a choice of plans;
3. Repeal the flawed Medicare physician payment system that harms seniors' access to care;
4. Curb insurance industry practices that frustrate patients---and their doctors!

The status quo is unacceptable. America's patients and our doctors deserve better.

Sometimes the task seems daunting, especially when you know that there are 47 million uninsured people in our country, and their ranks are growing every day that patients and their doctors have to fight with insurers to approve treatment, and then fight again for payment; and that dedicated doctors are driven from the profession by the burdens of bureaucracy, astronomical medical liability premiums and payments that fail to cover practice costs.

But what must not get lost in the current debate is that almost everyone agrees reforms are needed. We need to work toward consensus around the considerable common ground that exists and re-commit to resolving the differences.

As you consider the health reform legislation that will be presented to you, please keep real health reforms in mind. We need reforms that will:

1. Maintain the relationship between patients and their doctors; 
2. Expand coverage to all Americans through a choice of plans; 
3. Repeal the flawed Medicare physician payment system that harms seniors' access to care; 
4. Curb insurance industry practices that frustrate patients---and their doctors!

The status quo is unacceptable. America's patients and our doctors deserve better.

Your name and address will be added automatically to the signature line so that your legislator(s) can reply to your correspondence.