The fundamental problem with the American Health Care Act

As the immediate past-president of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM), the major professional association of academic general internists, I participated in SGIM’s Hill Day on March 8, 2017.  Hill Day is when an organization mobilizes its members to visit the offices of Senators and Congresspersons on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to discuss key issues.  Coincidentally, March 8 was also the day two House Committees began deliberations on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), and the day the American Medical Association (AMA) publicly voiced strong opposition to the proposed legislation.  SGIM focused its Hill Day efforts on educating legislators about key principles for health care reform, as well as advocacy for evidence-based primary care reimbursement fee schedules, and funding for health services research and primary care training. I have now participated in four Hill Days, visiting both Democratic and Republican legislators, including those from very liberal and very conservative districts and states.  There’s heterogeneity between and within parties.  Some legislative staff are literally brand new to health policy.  Others have deep expertise and understanding of issues.  No one party has a monopoly on competence and quality.  One of the most impressive legislative staff I’ve met was a Republican committee staffer.  She was smart, knowledgeable, pragmatic, and transparent.  One of my biggest disappointments has been one of Illinois’ Democra...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Policy Health reform Source Type: blogs