WSJ:
The American Medical Association sounded a cooperative tone after President Barack Obama addressed the group about U.S. health-care revision Monday, with its leaders saying they were particularly pleased that he acknowledged the liability worries that can lead physicians to practice "defensive medicine."
"The AMA is looking for ways to best help the president reach the goals we share...affordable health insurance for all Americans," said the group's president, Dr. Nancy Nielsen, at a news conference in Chicago. Seeking to clarify the AMA's position, Nielsen said the physicians organization is willing to weigh any proposals that come forward and doesn't categorically oppose the idea of giving Americans the option of a public health plan.
Elsewhere, trade groups representing manufacturers of drugs and medical devices indicated they needed to see more details about Obama's proposals, and reiterated their stance that reform shouldn't stifle medical innovation. A trade group representing hospitals said it was "deeply disappointed" in Obama's weekend proposal to cut certain federal payments to hospitals.
The AMA took Obama's remarks about liability worries as a signal that he's willing to work with doctors on malpractice revisions, even though he said he doesn't support caps on malpractice awards.
"This is the first Democratic president that's talked to us about any liability reform, so that's the good news," Nielsen said. "The other [comment about malpractice award caps] was no surprise. What we were very pleased about was that he is open to considering options that would lower the costs of defensive medicine. He acknowledged the issue" and put it in context of rising medical costs.
Obama told the AMA it will be hard to lower health-care spending "if doctors feel like they are constantly looking over their shoulder for fear of lawsuits. Some doctors may feel the need to order more tests and treatments to avoid being legally vulnerable. That's a real issue."
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