I am learning a lot from your above post! Wow!!!! I didn't think that AMA is now that toothless since they successfully fought tooth and nail the Johnson Administration when they only introduced Medicare Part A that only covered or paid hospital costs. In concession, Johnson agreed to Medicare Part B which covered or paid both hospitals and physicians. I think you allude to it but I don't think it's the whole story, but let me ask it again: What had happened to AMA? Is there more to the story to describe above? Moreover, can you inform me (or us) what exactly the two things that the AMA was fighting for and didn't have with ObamaCare? Were there any compromise made that you are not aware of?
With respect to "People have very little knowledge of the length of training it takes to become a doctor," I think internet plays a huge part to that. If you you go back in time, it was the opposite. For instance, there were a TV show in the 60's called "Marcus Welby, MD" that popularized the idea that doctors knew everything and during that time people believed whatever doctors were telling them. However, today with the internet, people can go to webmd and diagnose themselves w/o going to the doctor office. Do you agree, like me, that internet is one of the reasons why people have little respect on what it takes to become a physician? By that I mean - It is the mentality that: why do i need to pay Dr. big bucks when I can go to a nurse office and have them confirmed my suspicion for less, information of which I got from webmd??? Could that also explain Obama affinity toward nurses?
As far as medicare goes, doctors were afraid it would be like it is today, so in order to get doctors to accept it the government let them choose their own prices. At some point in the increases in payment outpaced inflation and the government took over setting the pricing with the SGR. The SGR has been predicting payment cuts for the last 10 years or something but they have been postponed for each time. Part of the way for paying for the new healthcare law was supposed to be from those cuts. However the elderly felt that they would be affected by the backlash (i.e. doctors would see even less medicare patients), so nothing has been done about it thus far.
I dont know that there is a real story behind what happened behind the AMA, probably people got complacent and then you had people who just wanted the title or the money and didnt really care. Thus leading to unpopular decisions and the decline of membership.
The AMA getting on board with the bill in exchange for 2 concessions (one being tort reform, I cant remember the other) was the compromise.
Yea I think media plays a huge role in the devaluation of our education. I have heard time and again how horrible WebMD, not just from physicians either. One of my college professors, said he was completely misquoted by them, to the point where it was blatently wrong.
Theres also tv docs, people see greys anatomy and think its all sex and action and then you go for a swim in your money vault.
Obamas affinity for nurses is easy, hes a politician pandering to a strong political group who is also supported by the public. The image of the doc is the underworked, mercedes driving, golf playing, know it all jerk. The nurses image is that of the over worked, caring person whose always there for you. With healthcare reform being such a big deal its no wonder he picked the nurses to stand behind.
People dont know enough to judge good medical so the metrics they use really have nothing to do with the actual quality of care they receive. If you sat in the room with them doing nothing they would think they were getting better medical care than if you were running DDXs for hours, somewhere else.
(A) require oral or written disclosure, to the patient or in an advertisement, of the type of license such person holds; and
I think they are going for Doctor of Nurse Practice.
Just like a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Not just "Doctor".
A physician would then be required to say Doctor of Medicine. Just like a DNP would be required to say they are in fact a nurse.
The nursing associations are strongly against regulations where such formal identification would be required.
