Societies launch campaign for universal health coverage. (Short Takes).A number of America's largest physician groups have joined forces to launch a campaign to make universal health care coverage the number one priority in the 2000 presidential election. The groups involved include the American Medical Association American Medical Association (AMA), professional physicians' organization (founded 1847). Its goals are to protect the interests of American physicians, advance public health, and support the growth of medical science. . American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Family Physicians, n.pr a national medical organization established in 1947 to promote the practice of family medicine. , American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics ("AAP") is an organization of pediatricians, physicians trained to deal with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. Its motto is: "Dedicated to the Health of All Children. , American College of Emergency Physicians The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the largest organization of emergency physicians in the United States. It was founded in 1968 and is now headquartered in Dallas,Texas. . American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a professional association of medical doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States. It has a membership of over 49,000[1] and represents 90 percent of U.S. . American College American College is the name of:
"We must exploit the current window of opportunity to put health care for the uninsured at the forefront of public debate," declared Whitney Addington, MD, Chair of the Physicians' Work Group on Universal Coverage Statement Subcommittee. "Our goal is to have every congressional and presidential candidate promise to create or support a plan to solve the problem of the uninsured within his or her first year of taking office." Currently more than 43 million Americans lack health insurance, and the number is expected to grow to more than 47 million within the next five years. The group vowed to fight for three basic concepts: (1) All Americans must have health care coverage; (2) health care coverage will contain a quality benefits package; and (3) Medical necessity determinations made under the benefit package should reflect generally accepted standards of medical practice, supported by outcomes-based evidence. The medical groups plan to use their organizational resources and a collective grassroots membership of more than 600,000 doctors to press political candidates on the subject of the uninsured. They are promising to work both separately and collectively on the issue of access and "continue this pursuit until our goal of universal health coverage for all is achieved." James A. Hawkins is Publisher of Healthcare Briefings, a newsletter available in print, on cassette, via fax, and on computer disk. He can be reached at 800/338-5486. |
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