Fellow physician here (radiology), thanks for the links. The AMA is indeed foolish, they may be pretty smart as a group but they’re lousy poker players. Their imprimatur has been purchased in part with revocation of the “Sustainable Growth Rate” provision of the Medicare payment formula. Were I sarcastic, I would say this suggests that they support an Unsustainable Growth Rate for Medicare payment.

The problem is that the endorsement having been made, it cannot be unmade should the Sausage Factory at Capitol Hill introduce other silly things into the bill, including things that violate the AMA’s own policy. I believe the vernacular for this is “getting played”.

At one point I was pretty involved in the AMA, even becoming the Resident Section chairman. I was discouraged by not only by the silliness of the policy system (rounding off the sharp corners of life in matters only tenuously connected to medicine) but by my observation that the loudest voices in the room were also the most liberal. Finally, I really felt stabbed in the back at one point by the very fellow who is now the AMA President. Yet another example of history not repeating, but rhyming, at least in my own personal case.

A former legislative director for the Texas Medical Association referred to organized medicine as “Boys’ State for Doctors”, and that really did stick with me. I see this as an example of pretend politicians getting devoured by real politicians. While I am a proud TMA member, I have no interest left in the AMA.