AMA has supported health reform law

A recent letter to the editor (“Time of good sense and judgment,” June 29) was wrong about the American Medical Association’s position on the Affordable Care Act. The AMA supported the health reform law, which expanded health insurance coverage and included insurance market reforms and initiatives to promote prevention and wellness. These are important changes in line with AMA policy, including our long-standing policy in favor of covering the uninsured.

This law was a first step, but progress must continue. As the nation’s largest physician organization, the AMA is working with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to make changes that will benefit patients and physicians. This includes repeal of the flawed Independent Payment Advisory Board, and improvements to our health care system through expanded medical liability reforms and a permanent fix for the broken Medicare physician payment system that currently threatens access to care for patients.

Peter W. Carmel, M.D.

President, American Medical Association

Chicago